Controversial plans to house thousands of chickens at large poultry unit on a village farm have been given the nod by councillors.
Members of North Shropshire District Council’s development control committee approved an egg production unit at Oaklands Farm, Edstaston, yesterday, Wednesday (December 10).
Permission was given with conditions including that signs be put up within 30 days telling lorry drivers where to turn upon leaving the site.
The new unit will see around an extra 14,000 birds at the farm, which already has a licence to hold 1.7m chickens and hens.
The building will be able to hold around 144,000 birds and will replace two previous units, which housed 130,000 birds, that were demolished last year.
Eight people raised objections to the application and a petition with 21 signatures on it was submitted to North Shropshire District Council.
Issues raised included concerns over noise, odour and heavy good vehicles driving in the area at unsociable hours. A total of 191 letters were also received from employees at the site and local businesses supporting the build, and the application had been recommended for approval by planning officers.
A report to councillors stated: “The design of the building represents a significant improvement in terms of environmental performance and the scheme will not have any significant detriment on the residential or visual amenities of the locality.”
Councillor Stephen Davenport said: “I would like to approve this but there’s got to be a condition to put some passing places on the lane because they are never going to get less traffic.”
But Councillor Davenport’s condition was not passed as part of the approval.