Chicken sheds for 200,000 birds get go-ahead near Shrewsbury
Four chicken sheds which will house up to 200,000 birds near Shrewsbury have been given the go-ahead by planners.
Councillors on the Shropshire Council central planning committee described the site of the sheds, at Sunderton Farm in Uffington, as the "absolutely perfect" location.
The plans include proposals for solar panels on two of the sheds, as well as feed bins and other additional buildings.
They were previously withdrawn over fears about night-time movement for the collection of birds, but the new proposals only allow HGV movement between 7am and 11pm.
Councillors voted unanimously on Thursday to delegate powers to the area planning manager to grant permission, subject to a 14-day re-consultation with dwelling owners on the access road.
Councillor Claire Wild said: "The sheds are low lying and it is surrounded by woodland.
"The siting of the sheds is spot on. The parish council has looked at this application and fully support it.
"It is two kilometres down a track which serves three farms and the site of the sheds is ideal.
"It is very rare for people to support an application of this nature and get parish council support with only one objection."
The sheds would measure 97 metres long, 24 metres wide and 4.6 metres high.
The application was lodged by the farmers to protect themselves from the volatility of farm commodity prices and also expand the business so it is sustainable going forward to support two families.
It proposes broiler production where day-old chicks will be taken into the site and retained for 42 days with a seven-day turnaround period.
Birds will be collected for four days and evenings during the turnaround period.
Planning officers had recommended the plans for approval as they were considered an appropriate form of farm diversification and had significant economic benefits.
Councillor David Roberts said the proposals would not offend anybody.
He said: "This site looks to be absolutely perfect.
"It is surrounded by woods and it is not going to offend anybody. This is a very good application."
The plans are subject to a 14-day re-consultation with people living on the access track to ensure they have no objections to the proposed hours of movement.
The meeting was told by officers they didn't expect any objections as they only one previously was to do with night time movement.
