Farm chicken sheds for Clun beauty spot site
Four giant sheds housing up to 180,000 chickens are set to be built at a farm in a Shropshire beauty spot after planners gave the scheme their blessing.
J Gwilliam and Sons will be build the 300ft-long sheds on the farm in Guilden Down, Clun, in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty,
The plans will also see two jobs created, one for a full-time poultry manager and the other for a part-time worker in the farm's sheep and arable businesses.
The sheds will be 80ft wide and 15ft high and clad in steel sheeting coloured dark blue. Each will house about 45,000 chickens.
A farm road is planned as part of the scheme which will connect broiler sheds to the A488 Bishop's Castle to Clun road.
Shropshire councillors praised the scheme during yesterday's South Planning Committee meeting in Westgate, Bridgnorth, which received two letters of objection.
Councillor Milner Whiteman said: "It seems to be naturally well hidden and has received very few objections.
"The application will also take much of the traffic out of the centre of Clun.
"It's the sort of development we are going to be seeing more of Shropshire and it should be encouraged."
Councillor Madge Shineton said she was satisfied there would be extensive landscaping around the sheds.
She said: "The new access road will be a relief because there are considerable problems in Clun itself. We do also have to remember that farming and agriculture is evolving."
Councillor William Parr said it was great the application would be bringing employment into what was a remote and historically interesting area.
He said: "A great deal of historical activity occurred in the area so I hope we are assured any important remains that are maybe found are not simply dug up."
