Shropshire dairy business seeks to ‘future proof’ with new slurry store
Planners have been told that the main slurry store at Stockton Grange is no longer fit for purpose and is poorly located.
A dairy farm near Newport has applied to replace a 49 year old slurry store with a digestate tower that can ‘future proof’ the business.
Planners have been told that the main slurry store at Stockton Grange is no longer fit for purpose and is poorly located.
Agricultural planning agent Selby Rural has told officials that the original structure was built when Heaths of Stockton had only 60 cows and no outlying land.
But it now has more than 1,900 acres and a significant increase in cows which are housed all year round with the ‘highest welfare standards’
“The existing slurry/digestate tower situated in the centre of the farm buildings was erected in 1977,” planners at Telford & Wrekin Council have been told.
“There is evidence that the existing tower requires replacing due its age.”
The ‘tower’ is not bunded or covered and filling and emptying it are difficult.
“This purpose-built digestate store will allow additional all year storage for the produce at Stockton Grange,” the agents write.
“The applicants are also ensuring that the proposed tower is future proofed for future environmental legislation with the bunding of the tower, with a concrete base and concrete walls ensuring if an incident was to arise the contents would be contained.”
Covers on stores can “can reduce ammonia emissions, as well as helping to reduce unnecessary water ingress into the store, therefore potentially reducing storage capacity requirements.”
The farm’s nutrient management would be ‘much more efficient’, planners have been told.
“There is a clear need for this digestate tower to allow for the business to continue to expand and develop.
“This is a huge step forward and will allow for a modern tower which will not only provide far better slurry/ digestate management, all year storage but also boost profitability of the agricultural business.
“The local planning authority are urged to support this application; in doing so they will be supporting an agricultural and rural family business.”
You can find out more about planning applications and planned roadworks where you live by visiting publicnoticeportal.uk/shropshire-star
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