Chicken farm near Shrewsbury would house 200,000 birds
A chicken farm for 200,000 birds could be built near Shrewsbury if plans are approved.
Plans have been submitted to Shropshire Council for four poultry units at North Farm, Felton Butler, Montford Bridge.
As well as the chicken sheds, applicant L J Cooke & Son wants to build eight feed bins, a biomass store, amenity building, generator store, office, shower room, control room and a toilet on the land which is currently used as arable land.
In the plans it says the business wants to diversify into a poultry enterprise to support its arable business.
It says: “The applicant wishes to enhance the business to create a sustainable future for themselves and their young family.
“Hence, the business has to diversify to create and sustain jobs.”
The poultry houses will each measure 111.557 metres by 24.684 metres.
The buildings would be fitted with roof extraction and rear gable end extraction fans.
New planting would include suitable native species and shrubs from local stock to provide screening and habitat areas for wildlife. Native woodland planted around the site boundary would provide nesting and foraging areas for birds.
The proposed buildings would be positioned and orientated in order to maximise the use of natural daylight and solar energy.
If the plans are approved, manure removal would take place in the short period between bird removal and chick placement and the direction of the movements will vary.
Bird removals would take place in two waves each lasting two days during the crop cycle.
There are residential properties within 400 metres of the proposed chicken farm, which are a mixture of large country houses and smaller cottage type properties.
The site, which extends to about three hectares, is near the village of Felton Butler.
A decision will be made on the plans by Shropshire Council in the coming months.
