Plans for 260,00-bird Shropshire poultry farm get go-ahead

The development on land north of Roden Lane Farm has attracted concerns over odour, dust, noise and the number of HGVs that will be accessing the site through narrow country lanes.

The plans for four poultry sheds, 10 feed bins, ancillary works, changes to access, a biomass building and associated landscaping were approved by members of Telford & Wrekin Council's planning committee

Each shed will provide accommodation for up to 65,000 broilers, with the four sheds housing a total of 260,000 birds.

Ercall Magna Parish Council has objected and called the application into committee, and the approval is subject to a Section 106 contribution of £30,000 to implement a traffic calming scheme on Roden Lane.

At the meeting, held at the Whitehouse Hotel in Wellington on Tuesday, parish councillor Raymond Wickson spoke against the development.

He said: "This will have a cumulative effect along with other similar applications in the parish and in surrounding areas.

"This development is in completely the wrong place.

Resident, Elaine Muir, also spoke against the development. She said: "Smell, noise and dust is still a huge concern.

"This development will have a detrimental impact on our lives.

"This is not farming, it is industrial food production. There is no reason why it couldn't be added on an industrial estate.

"It won't benefit the local area."

Telford & Wrekin Councillor Stephen Bentley, ward member for Edgmond & Ercall Magna, also raised objections.

He said: "This is a large, industrial build that does not belong in this village.

"The parish council, residents and the Campaign to Protect Rural England have all given reasons as to why this should be refused.

"This development is wrong for this area and would harm the environment."

Councillor Bentley urged members to refuse the "damaging" application.

But Telford & Wrekin Council officers, who recommended the plans for approval subject to conditions, and the applicant's agent, Mary Seedhouse, said mitigations had been put in place to manage the possible impact of the development.

As part of the conditions, vehicles travelling as part of the final poultry collection would only be able to leave the site towards the direction of Shrewsbury and the A49, and not towards the neighbouring village of Roden.

Officers said they were satisfied that it would be "sustainable" development.

Councillor Ian Fletcher, Councillor Nigel Dugmore, Councillor Jayne Greenaway Councillor Charles Smith and others all raised concerns about potential odour and the impact that the total of 206 vehicle movements per crop of chickens would have on the rural area.

But Councillor Liz Clare, ward member for Donnington, said similar developments in Telford only noticed odours during the "wash down period" and that diversification by farmers should be supported.

She said: "An application like this shows a significant investment.

"We see it all the time that farmers are having to diversify to actually survive.

"We need to go back in future and ensure the conditions are adhered to.

"I understand the concerns of the residents but in five or 10 years this will just be another farm."

Councillor Smith, ward member for Wrockwardine Wood and Trench, agreed that the development may have positive impacts on the wider farming community, outside of the local area.

The plans were passed with a majority of five to four against.