150,000-bird chicken farm scheme is lodged

Plans have been unveiled to build giant poultry units in a small village in Shropshire to house nearly 150,000 chickens.

The proposals for three poultry rearing sheds at Foxholes Farm Buildings in Little Ness, between Oswestry and Shrewsbury, have been submitted to Shropshire Council.

The planning application also includes two control rooms, feed bins, an office/store building, a water tower, and road improvement works.

Applicants GC Davies and Co, from the Red House Farm in Little Ness, say the development will cause 'no social impact' because its structure is similar to other poultry farms of the same scale across Shropshire.

A statement on behalf of the applicants says the poultry units will have three sheds measuring 114.58m by 24.384m which would provide housing for a maximum of 148,296 chickens.

They say: "The size and scale of the buildings, the way the site has been laid out and the nature of the proposed landscaping have been incorporated into the eventual scheme in order to address the relevant planning policies, the impact of vehicle movements and the visual impact of the buildings.

"The appearance of the structures will be typical of modern poultry buildings and therefore the development is appropriate within the context of the rural landscape."

The site proposed is north of Little Ness next to a farmyard surrounded by agricultural land used for arable production.

Last July plans to build five poultry units housing almost 250,000 chickens in the same area were thrown out by a Government inspector.

Gyllian Grindey, from the Planning Inspectorate, was called in to make a decision at an appeal after plans were rejected by Shropshire Council.

Ms Grindey rejected the appeal citing a number of objections to the site, including concerns over traffic, the effect on residents and the impact of the units on the countryside.