Two poultry houses at Foxholes Farm Poultry Unit, Little Ness, Shrewsbury

What was proposed

Two poultry houses, feed bins, hardstandings and a relocated access road would support lower stocking density across the farm.

“Proposal: Erection of 2 No. additional poultry houses with associated feed bins, hardstandings and relocated access road associated with a reduction in stocking density across the whole poultry farm to the new higher welfare standards.”

“Foxholes Farm Poultry Unit is an established poultry rearing unit. It includes eight poultry houses together with ancillary buildings and infrastructure. This application seeks planning permission for the erection of two additional poultry houses with associated feed bins and hardstanding, and the relocation of part of the existing internal access road.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The established poultry unit lies north of Little Ness, among agricultural land, with homes and a public footpath nearby.

“Foxholes Farm is located approximately 550 metres to the north of the village of Little Ness. The poultry rearing operation includes eight poultry buildings with associated feed bins, control rooms, an office, storage building, attenuation pond, and related infrastructure. The existing buildings are positioned in parallel rows and the proposed buildings would form an elongation of this row.”

Officer report

Earlier planning history

Earlier permissions covered poultry buildings, the anaerobic digester, lagoons, access works and other farm infrastructure.

“09/01778/FUL Erection of five poultry units and ancillary works including creation of new access and off-site highway improvements. REFUSE 27th May 2010 12/01419/EIA Erection of 3 poultry rearing sheds; 2 control rooms, 7 feed bins, office/store building, water tower, vehicular access, road improvement works (in Great Ness & Little Ness) earth bund and landscaping scheme GRANT 24th October 2012 13/00881/AMP Re-alignment of feed bins and small increase in floor area by…”

“Erection of a 500kWe Anaerobic Digester (AD) plant for the purpose of farm diversification and for the production of renewable energy GRANT 9th September 2013 13/04456/AMP Proposed non-material amendment to previously approved planning permission reference 12/01419/EIA for the erection of 3 poultry rearing sheds; 2 control rooms, 7 feed bins, office/store building, water tower, vehicular access, road improvement works (in Great Ness & Little Ness) earth bund and landscaping…”

Officer report

Public views

One objector questioned bird numbers, cumulative pollution, manure and ammonia impacts, welfare claims, and how restrictions would be enforced.

“It is clearly failing in this duty in considering multiple planning applications for IPUs and extensions in isolation from each other and in ignoring how it is proposed that the increased volumes of manure are to be dealt with - Council has publicly stated that the environmental permit (EP) for the AD unit will deal with any risks of pollution from the increased volumes of poultry manure; however EPs are granted in isolation from each other and do not take into account…”

“- The “higher welfare” claims amount to welfare-washing rather than genuine welfare improvement - Reduction in stocking density is a marginal improvement over existing legal requirements - Other recognised higher-welfare measures (such as slower-growing breeds and avoiding thinning) are not proposed, undermining claims of a welfare-driven development - proposed thinning regime is criticised as stressful for birds and inconsistent with higher-welfare assurance schemes - lack…”

Officer report

Who spoke

A public speaker spoke against the proposal, and the agent spoke in support.

Members’ discussion

Members were concerned that stocking density could increase, but were advised that changing the maximum would require an application to vary the condition.

“He drew Members attention to the information in the Schedule of Late Representations and also advised them that if they were minded to approve the application an amendment to Condition 10 would be needed so that the condition read - “The poultry units at the site shall be limited to occupation by no more than 445,500 birds across 10 broiler units…”

“Members expressed concern that the stocking density could be raised in the future. The Principal Planner Officer advised that as the maximum number of birds was specified in condition 10 an application to vary this condition would be required if the applicant wanted to increase the stocking density.”

Minutes

The committee’s vote

The committee resolved to grant planning permission in accordance with the officer recommendation.

“That in accordance with Officer recommendation planning permission be granted subject to the conditions as set out in Appendix 2, and to any amendments considered necessary to these, including the amendment of condition 10 to read “The poultry units at the site shall be limited to occupation by no more than 445,500 birds across 10 broiler units”; and the completion of a Section 106 agreement to secure continued HGV routing control, and to provide for long term biodiversity…”

Minutes