Plans to keep a ‘mini zoo’ at a Cookham farm for a further two years have been submitted.

The proposals would see the zoo and animal education centre retained at Lower Mount Farm until New Year’s Day 2026.

The zoo, which has been at the site for around 12 months, is home to a range of animals including ring tailed lemurs, Czechoslovakian wolf dogs and royal pythons.

The design and access statement reads: “The current use within the application site is poor quality agricultural land. This proposal seeks temporary Planning Consent to operate a mini zoo which falls under a sui generic use.

“The mini zoo will attract members of the pubic via an on-line ticketing system to ensure the number of visitors are controlled. Walk-in visitors will not be accepted."

It further noted that the appearance of the site would retain “traditional form” and that the applicants are “young entrepreneurs with a keen interest in educating, conserving and sharing their knowledge of animals.”

Although the site falls withing the Green Belt, the applicant argued: “We consider that a non Green Belt location within the locality would not be acceptable given the nature of the use and the space requirements for an operation such as this.

“Locating this site on an established farm estate which serves the public with the benefits set out above, should outweigh the limited harm to the open Green Belt.”

To find out more about this planning application, visit RBWM’s planning portal with the reference 23/02908/FULL.