A poultry farm near Nantwich looks set to apply for permission for four broiler units to accommodate up to 200,000 chickens in total, writes Belinda Ryan.
RM & K Whittaker Poultry Ltd has submitted an environmental impact assessment (EIA) scoping report to Cheshire East Council in relation to its plan for an intensive poultry installation on land at Brindley Farm, off Wrexham Road at Burland.
The proposal, which could see each unit accommodate up to 50,000 chickens, will produce poultry meat for human consumption.
The scoping report produced by Roger Parry & Partners on behalf of the applicant, states: “As a worst case the development will accommodate 200,000 birds.”
The proposed buildings will measure 110m by 24.4m with a height to the eaves of 3m and 5.9m to ridge.
Access will be via the existing track through the farm from the A534, Wrexham Road.
The report says: “The chickens will be grown for a food processing company that supplies chicken to the retail trade.
“In order to supply the retail trade, all farmers must, as a minimum, be members of the Red Tractor Farm Assured Chicken Scheme.”
It adds: “A landscaping scheme will be implemented to help mitigate any adverse visual impact from the proposed development.
“This will also provide biodiversity benefits.”
The site is in the open countryside and the surrounding land is exclusively agricultural.
The report states: “The UK remains a net importer of poultry meat, producing only around 83–84 per cent of domestic demand for human consumption.
“This structural reliance on imports presents a risk to food security and supply chain resilience, particularly during periods of market volatility…
“The proposed development will contribute to national objectives for greater self-sufficiency in poultry production, reducing reliance on imported meat and supporting a more sustainable, secure food system.”
The application, number 26/1331/EIA, can be viewed on the planning portal on Cheshire East Council website.
Chickens aren’t grown, they’re not plants. They are sentient. Using that as their choice of verb says all they think of living creatures destined for death and roasting. The pollution risk is horrific also. The Wye has been destroyed by these American style life to death giant processing centres
Animal welfare is the most important consideration.
Inhumane conditions are inexcusable. Greed should not be put before welfare.
Just because people are not inconvenienced by the smell and sight of these monstrous farms does not make them acceptable
I’m sure if no objection are put in then it would be nice,
My only concern is the smell and impact on trade and traffic visiting the farm.
Also What are they going to do with the chicken waste, will it be recycled off by means of chicken manure,
Or will it be incinerated .
I pity the people who live by this. The smell these places generate is absolutely awful.