Plans for sheds to house 32,000 hens

A prospective egg producer wants to erect poultry buildings to accommodate 32,000 free-range hens on land near Sound.

That is more than double the population of Nantwich, which stood at 13,694 in the 2011 census.

Whitchurch based, Andrew Hollins, wants planning permission for two huge sheds, four feed bins and hardstanding on land near Oak Farm, Heately Lane, Broomhall.

A report prepared by rural planning consultants, Ian Pick Associates, says the applicant has recently purchased a 112 acre parcel of land together with a tied bungalow in order to launch the business.

He wants to start up free range egg production with 32,000 laying hens in two sheds, each 76 metres long and 19.5 metres wide, linked by a control room.

The report to Cheshire East planners says: "Free-range egg production is an extensive and welfare friendly form of egg production and is a rapidly expanding market in the United Kingdom."

The report adds: "Planning policies should support economic growth in rural areas in order to create jobs and prosperity by taking a positive approach to sustainable new development."

The use of the proposed buildings is to house free-range laying hens, together with associated egg collection, packing facilities and feed bins.

Buildings will include a scratch area and a plastic slatted dunging area. The outside range area for the hens extends to 1 hectare for every 2,000 birds and will be enclosed by a post and wire stock fence.

The report says manure belts will be emptied twice weekly to prevent the build-up of manure and so avoid any smell nuisance. Manure would be dumped into agricultural trailers and used on a neighbouring farm as an agricultural fertiliser.

The application says large buildings are necessary due to the substantial set up costs estimated at about £960,000. Internal equipment for feeding, lighting, conveyors and egg packing will form a large part of the project cost and smaller buildings are not viable.

Plans also include a new entrance into the site from Mickley Hall Road to allow HGV lorries to move in and out.

The plans were registered on June 24th with comments invited by July 31 and a committee date for decision set for September 18th with a target decision date of September 28th.

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