64,000-bird free range egg plant planned near Eccleshall

James Eld is seeking permission from Stafford Borough Council for the 64,000 bird free range poultry unit.

The land at Seighford Settled Estates, north of the nearby airfield, is currently in agricultural use. Four buildings are planned, each measuring around 64.4m by 23.3m, together with a central egg collection area.

A planning statement submitted as part of the application said: “Internally the building will include tiered perches which are located over manure belts. The nest boxes are situated within the building adjacent to an egg collection conveyor. The eggs roll onto the conveyor belts which are designed to bring all the eggs to the centralised egg packing area.

“Lighting within the building will be on a time switch and provide the birds with at least 14 hours of light per day which is not visible externally. Ventilation within the buildings is automatic and the temperature is thermostatically controlled.

“Pop holes are situated along the side of each building and they provide the birds with direct access to the ranging areas. The ranging area for the birds is eight hectares (19.8 acres) per 16,000 birds. The areas will be enclosed by standard agricultural post and wire stock fencing.

“Free range egg units are proven to produce negligible environmental consequences. An odour impact assessment has been prepared along with this report and shows compliance with the Environment Agency benchmark.

“The application site is remote from protected dwellings with the closest being nearest to the roaming site but stands 165 metres away from the actual poultry buildings. This dwelling is owned by the applicant.

“Under the various welfare codes the free range egg unit must provide that every 2,000 birds have one hectare (2.5acres) of roaming area and that no part of the roaming area can be more than 350m from the poultry building. This site is therefore selected due to its excellent location, being well screened to mitigate impact on the character and appearance of the area and has sufficient land within a 350m radius for the applicant to provide a suitable roaming area.”

One neighbour said they had no objections to the plans provided the hens were free range.

But another Seighford resident said: “I object most strongly to this planning application for a 64,000 bird chicken farm. Despite the use of the term ‘free range’, I question how the welfare of the chickens will be maintained.

“Farming on such a large and intense scale, research shows, can only lead to serious overcrowding, with chickens unable to engage in their natural activities such as foraging, dust-bathing and socialising. Case studies have revealed that each chicken, at most, only has space equal to a sheet of A4 paper.

“Being confined and crammed together causes severe stress often leading to cannibalism. The lives of the chickens will be traumatic, filled with stress and in the 21st century it is completely unacceptable to allow this planning application to go forward with such blatant disregard for animal welfare.”