Latest news with #IanPick
BBC News
13-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Plans submitted for 160,000-bird poultry farm near Shifnal
A planning application for a new poultry farm housing 160,000 birds has been applicants want to build four poultry houses on land southwest of Manor Farm, Sherrifhales, near Shifnal in land, north of the A5, was approved for use as a pig unit in July 2023 but the applicants now want to use it as a site for broiler chickens "to diversify their business", according to the application.A public consultation on the plans is open until 7 June. The proposals include four poultry houses, each housing 40,000 birds, linked by a 117m-long corridor with an amenity block, as well as feed bins, a shed for dead birds, dirty water tanks and a parking chickens would be reared on the site for about 38 days, beginning when they are a day site would then remain empty for 10 days for cleaning while the next batch of chicks is prepared. The application estimates about 1.2m birds would be processed each year, under standards set out by the Better Chicken Commitment would be removed in sealed trailers to be disposed of via an anaerobic digester in Oswestry. Economic benefits Planning consultant Ian Pick, of Harrison Pick, said the farm would bring economic benefits to the area, including the creation of two full-time jobs."The proposed development will offer a substantial initial cash injection into the rural economy through the construction phase," he said. "[It] will also provide a significant contribution to the associated services industries within the poultry sector."The added value to the local economy through direct and indirect employment for the development is substantial."Mr Pick added that an odour impact assessment suggested any smells emanating from the farm would be largely contained to the immediate vicinity.A landscape mitigation plan includes the planting of trees to shield the view of the Council is expected to make a decision on the plans in August. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
04-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Chicken farm plans called a 'danger' to River Kennet in Newbury
There have been calls for plans to almost triple the size of a chicken farm to be rejected over pollution Farm in Newbury, Berkshire, near the River Kennet, is currently home to 12,000 chickens, but the new plans would see that increase to 32, Salter, head of policy at the Angling Trust, said the proposal, lodged with West Berkshire Council, was "utterly unacceptable" and "presents a clear and present danger to the river and the wildlife the river sustains".Developer Harrison Pick Ltd said the proposed new buildings would be better for the environment. Mr Salter, who is also the former Labour MP for Reading West, said: "Chicken manure is highly toxic. "Obviously, if it's spread on the ground or leaks out of these units, and it's bound to given it's actually in the flood plain very close to the river, it mixes with surface water and leaches into the river and into the ground water, it creates a huge phosphate spike." The River Kennet is one of 260 chalk streams in the world, and home to critically endangered species like the European of Harrison Pick Ltd Ian Pick said: "This site has been used for free range hens for the last 20 years. "There's no real change in the use of the site. What we are changing is the style and type of the building."For example, the six buildings that are there now are very old, they've got no floors in them, so all the existing manure generated by the birds in the existing sheds just drops on the floor. "Our new shed is designed to the best available techniques."The volumes of nitrate from a free range egg system are just insignificant."About 55% of land in England is in an Environment Agency nitrate vulnerable zone, including Bradfords Farm. Farmers in these areas must follow special rules to stop run off into Environment Agency said it had commented on the proposals highlighting the environmental sensitivity of the farm's location and seeking more information.A spokesperson said: "Excess nutrients of any kind can be damaging to our rivers. "The controls in the relevant regulations set out how farmers should store and use nutrients to minimise the risk of pollution or environmental harm occurring. "It is an offence to cause or knowingly permit polluting matter to enter any controlled waters." You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
