A public protest is being organised to highlight plans for a poultry farm capable of rearing 2.7m chickens a year — after 18,000 people signed a petition.
The development, which would house up to 360,000 birds at any one time, is proposed for land north of Underlands Lane, near Melmerby, Ripon.
The application has been submitted to North Yorkshire Council by Forest Poultry Ltd.
Six units each measuring 126m by 25m for rearing broiler chickens are proposed.
Each would include a control room and be fitted with automated feeding, drinking, heating and ventilation systems.
The development would also incorporate heat exchangers to improve energy efficiency and reduce gas use, while around 100KW of roof-mounted solar panels would be installed on each building.
Agents for the applicants, Harrison Pick Planning Consultants, say the scheme would help meet the UK’s growing demand for chicken meat, arguing that there is a “compelling and robust economic justification” for the proposed development.
They add:
“The scheme addresses a clearly identified national need, reduces reliance on imports, supports rural economic growth, and contributes positively to food security and sustainability objectives.
“These benefits weigh heavily in favour of the proposal in the overall planning balance.”
But more than 430 people, along with local parish councils and campaign groups, have submitted objections to the application.
They have raised numerous concerns, including noise, odour and air quality, as well as the impact on the local landscape and animal welfare worries.
An objection submitted by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has been signed by 18,000 people.
It says the proposed poultry unit would generate unpleasant odours and ammonia emissions that could affect nearby residents, wildlife and air quality.
It also argues the development would increase heavy goods vehicle traffic, creating more congestion, road safety risks and vehicle emissions.
PETA also raises concerns about the potential spread of diseases such as bird flu and argues the development would subject millions of chickens to poor welfare conditions, including rapid growth-related health problems and short lifespans, urging councillors to reject the application.
In recent weeks, objectors have contacted the council to say there is missing information and inconsistencies within the application.
A protest is being planned for August 8 from 12noon to 1pm at the site of the proposed farm to highlight the opposition to the scheme.
Ripon resident Brian McHugh, who organised the protest, said:
“It is worrying that at this late stage of the process, the people of Melmerby are still being ignored by the applicant and key information is missing.
“There is still no assessment of the odour pollution for the village- this core group of shareholders have been missed out and discounted.
“It is also alarming that the processing plant in Norfolk for the 3,000 tonnes of chicken manure annually, does not have a licence beyond 2027 and is likely to close. There is no assessed alternative given in the application.”
Supporting documents submitted with the application say that more than a quarter of the poultry consumed in the UK is now imported, with growing volumes coming from countries including Thailand, Poland, Brazil and Ukraine with different animal welfare, environmental and regulatory standards than those required of British farmers.
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