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28
May
Exclusive: Concerns over ‘abhorrent’ plans to open mega chicken farm near Ripon
Concerns have been raised over plans to create a mega chicken farm near Ripon that will produce 2.7 million birds to eat each year.
Forest Poultry Ltd has submitted plans to North Yorkshire Council to create a broiler poultry rearing unit for meat production at Underlands Lane, Melmerby.
The company wants to build six steel poultry houses, each 126 metres long and 25 metres wide.
Each house will accommodate 60,000 birds, resulting in a total capacity of 360,000 birds across the site.
Day-old chicks will be delivered to the site and reared for 30 to 38 days before being killed. The buildings will then be cleaned and prepared for the next flock 10 days later.
Over a year, it is expected about 2.7 million birds will be produced by 7.5 flock cycles.
Forest Poultry claims the proposed development “represents a sustainable and policy-compliant form of agricultural development within a suitable rural location”.
But its planning application has received several objections so far as part of a public consultation run by the council before it decides whether to approve the scheme.
In his comment, Richard Blazyca, who lives in Wales, describes intensive poultry farms as “abhorrent” and "cruel" and says they can pollute rivers. Marco Rosati, of Penrith, says “the scale of this project is deeply concerning” and “would mean millions of individual birds living extremely short lives in highly intensive conditions”.
He adds:
Large intensive livestock units are associated with increased risks of disease transmission, including avian influenza outbreaks, as well as environmental pressures linked to waste management, ammonia emissions, and potential water contamination.
Nearby residents have also objected, with Wath’s Nick Cushing citing concerns about noise, air pollution and road infrastructure.
He added: “This is an area of natural beauty and this would be a horrendous blot on the landscape. This is clearly an industrial scale proposal and should be located in a dedicated industrial area.”
Sean Ogley, of Melmerby, said: “Poultry production and waste by-products are linked to ammonia, nitrous oxide and methane emissions, and have an impact on global greenhouse gas emissions, as well as animal and human health.”
The landscape plan showing the six poultry houses. Image: Terrain Landscapes Ltd on behalf of Forest Poultry Ltd
Major operation
A design and access statement in support of the plans described Forest poultry as “an award-winning, intensive broiler (meat) chicken producer based in North Yorkshire” founded in 2013 by young farmer Harry Shepherd, which has “grown into a major operation producing millions of birds a year”.
It says the site, which would also include a plant room, gas storage tanks, nine feed bins, staff welfare facilities and car parking, would “facilitate the efficient and sustainable production of broiler chickens for the UK food supply chain”.
The statement says overseas poultry now accounts for 25% of UK consumption, with most imported birds coming from Thailand, Poland and Brazil, and the proposed development “responds to a clear and evidenced national need to increase domestic poultry production capacity within the United Kingdom”.
It concludes:
The proposed development represents a sustainable and policy-compliant form of agricultural development within a suitable rural location. The scheme supports economic growth, enhances domestic food production, and incorporates a range of environmental and sustainability measures.
The principle of development is supported by national and local planning policy, and the detailed technical assessments demonstrate that the proposal will not result in significant adverse impacts. The development will deliver biodiversity net gain, operate efficiently, and integrate appropriately within its surroundings.
The Stray Ferret has attempted to contact Forest Poultry Ltd. In an interview three years ago, Mr Shepherd said the company "prides itself on excellent welfare standards".
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