Plans for new 160,000-bird chicken farm to be considered by Shropshire Council

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A planning statement explains the ambitions for the scheme, saying: "The poultry buildings are to be used for the rearing of broilers from day old chicks through to finished table weight, with the additional infrastructure required, to facilitate the proposed use.

"Each additional building will accommodate 40,000 birds with 160,000 bird places proposed in total."

The statement also says that throughout the year the farm will have seven and a half flocks of birds.

It says: "Following the removal of the birds, the site is empty for 10 days for cleaning and preparation of the next batch of chicks.

"The cleaning process involves removal of the manure, followed by power washing of the buildings.

"Once washed, the buildings are dried using the heating system, and bedded with wood shavings in readiness for the next batch of birds. The site will operate with 7.5 flocks of birds per annum."

The application includes details of how the manure from the birds will be dealt with.

It states: "All manure generated from the poultry unit will be removed from the site in sealed trailers which will be sheeted to mitigate odour impacts during the transportation process.

"The manure will be disposed of via an Anaerobic Digester plant at Abbots Moor Farm, Haughton, West Felton, Oswestry.

"The Anaerobic Digester plant is an existing 1.1mw facility which is approved to process up to 25,000 tonnes of agricultural wastes, including poultry manures. All dirty water arising from the development will be removed from the site for disposal through a licensed wastewater treatment works."

The proposal says access to the development will be via the existing access to the A5, which will be upgraded.

A decision on the plan will be taken at a later date.