Second try at unit for 32,000 chickens at farm near Newtown

In November 2017, after a concerted campaign which included backing from Downton Abbey and Ever Decreasing Circles star, Peter Egan, the application for a Free Range Poultry Unit at Upper Gwestydd, Cefn Mawr near Newtown was rejected by Powys County Council's planning committee.

In a fresh design & access statement submitted to the council, agents Roger Parry & Partners said: “The farm business is run by Gareth and Delyth Woosnam with the support of their sons, Aled and Geraint.

“The family have a keen work ethic and wish to develop their unit to provide a diversified business to sustain the family and ensure a full use of labour available on the farm.

“Upper Gwestydd is an intensive mixed enterprise farm, with a herd of 40 commercial suckler cows together with an established flock of commercial sheep.

“The business is now considering diversifying to accommodate a free range poultry unit to accommodate 32,000 free range birds.

“The business is more than confident that the free range unit can be a success and supplement the current farm profits.

“The business has realised the Reform of the Common Agricultural Policy will reduce farm incomes and is proposing the poultry unit to secure a sustainable future and allow family succession.”

The building would be 140 metres long and 20metres wide making a total footprint of 2,800 square metres.

Unlike some existing 32,000 bird units this proposal only proposes having one unit instead of two.

This would house all the birds and see all eggs produced transported to a single egg room for packaging.

The birds will have access to roam the land around the building which will be fenced to keep predators out.

The birds are brought to the unit as young laying stock and stay there for 14 months before being removed and the building is prepared for the next flock to restart the cycle.

The application will now be considered by the planning department at a date to be set.