Giant chicken sheds bid near Shrewsbury dismissed at appeal
Plans to build four giant poultry sheds capable of housing 176,000 chickens in the Shropshire countryside were today thrown out by a planning inspector.
Christine Thorby dismissed an appeal into whether Shropshire Council's decision last year to reject proposals by farmer John Owen should be overturned by the Government.
Mr Owen had wanted to build four units, which would each have been 100 metres long and 25 metres wide, on Flemming's Field in Acton Pigot, near Shrewsbury.
The inspector's decision follows a public inquiry that took place in May and returned for its final sessions in the summer.
Her report said the poultry sheds would have an "immediate negative impact" on the local landscape, despite plans to screen the units with planting.
"The appeal scheme would form an isolated development of industrial scale and appearance which, at least for the first few years, would be stark and severe," it said. "Set amongst open, farmed fields, it would have an immediate negative impact in the landscape, which would only be partially reduced by a planted, artificial landform which itself would be uncharacteristic."
The report did accept the proposed site was the "most appropriate location available" for the units and said the scheme would have helped the local economy.
"A major gain would be in assisting in food production and security, which is important socially and economically to Shropshire and the country as a whole," Ms Thorby said.
But the inspector added such a potential benefit would be outweighed by the harm to the nearby hamlet of Golding and the grade II- listed Golding Hall.
She added: "While the public benefit is considerable, it would not outweigh the significant harm to the setting of the heritage assets at Golding which would detract from the environment and the contribution the listed buildings make to society for this and future generations."
Concerns were also raised about lorries travelling to the site in the night and causing sleep disturbance for residents.
Mr Owen said today that he was disappointed with the outcome but accepted the decision.
"That is why you go to the inquiry and you accept the decision that has been made," he said.
But Gary Pearce, chairman of the Villages Action Group, said: "I am delighted for everybody who has opposed this development."
