Fate of 110k Chicken Farm near Knighton to be decided by councillors

Plans for a meat rearing chicken farm near Knighton, which had been stopped earlier this year will be discussed by councillors on Thursday.

In February, environmental campaigners Sustainable Food Knighton won a legal battle against Powys County Council (PCC) to stop the 110,000-broiler chicken farm at Llanshay Farm being built.

In May, it was revealed that revised plans for the scheme had been lodged with the council.

These plans will be discussed at a meeting of the council’s planning committee on Thursday, November 11.

Thomas Price’s original application was successful in September 2020 and approved by planners under delegated powers.

Sustainable Food Knighton believed this decision was “unlawful” and applied for a judicial review on the decision.

After a High Court Judge granted permission to proceed to a full judicial review hearing, PCC conceded the case and had to pay £20,500 in court costs.

That decision revolved around there being no evidence to say, that spreading manure from the units on the farmland twice a year, would not have an impact on the character or quality of the area.

The report by council planning officers on the application states:  “It is recognised that there are arguments both for and against the sustainability of intensive livestock units in the UK as well as the overall impact of the development on the environment and local populations.

“All development has an impact, and it is the role of the planning authority to assess whether the impact is acceptable or unacceptable taking into
account material planning matters.

“The application is in respect of a development to accommodate 110,000 broilers been assessed by Development Management and taking into account the comments of consultees and members of the public, the development is considered to not unacceptably affect the environment.

“The development is considered to be compliant with local and national planning policy and it is for that reason that the development is
recommended for approval.”

Agent, Ian Pick, in an amended Environment statement following the legal decision, highlights the changes made to the manure management regime and building design.

Mr Pick said: “The revised proposals involve the removal of the of the manure from the site to an Anaerobic Digester Plant with no manure storage proposed.

“The wastes are proposed to be removed under a formal contract with Whitchurch Biogas Ltd, and removal of the waste will be planned in advance
to coincide with the end of each flock cycle.

“All waste will be removed in sealed, sheeted trailers.”

Sustainable Food Knighton said: “The proposal to deal with the many tonnes of chicken manure produced by hauling it to an anaerobic digester 50 miles away merely shifts the problem and results in more lorry journeys.”