Shropshire chicken units could house 300,000 birds

Six poultry units housing more than 300,000 chickens could be built in the Shropshire countryside.

Proposals for a poultry rearing business at Vantage Farm, Bletchley near Market Drayton which could create new jobs have been submitted to Shropshire Council.

Applicants say the development would house 330,650 birds and produce about 5,217 tonnes of meat a year.

The scheme also includes making road improvements and creating 14 feed bins, a biomass store and boiler room.

A report on behalf of the applicant says: "The proposal is a sustainable economic development that will contribute positively to the UK poultry sector.

"The development will create two full-time and one part-time positions, as well as indirectly contributing to the local economy through feed and building contracts and veterinary employment.

According to the documents, four local residents were concerned voiced related to odour e and flies. "But, encouragingly, there were no residents who said that they objected to the proposal," it said.