July 2, 2024

Plans to set up egg farm housing 12,000 hens in England, UK, rejected by local residents

Plans for a free-range egg farm housing up to 12,000 hens in England, the United Kingdom, have been rejected.

Bosses at Highcliffe Farm in Winston, near Darlington, had hoped to build the agricultural building to boost egg production. Their proposal included new feed bins and tanks for hens, a bird housing area alongside an egg store and an egg packing area with two external feed bins.

However, nearly 100 objections from residents supported Durham County Council's recommendation for refusal. Concerns were raised about the potential impact of odour and noise on the nearby Winston Bridge holiday park, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

One objector was concerned that the River Tees could be polluted by waste, impacting fish stocks, other wildlife and people who use the river for leisure.

Despite concerns over the scale of the proposed farm, applicant Zoe Huxtable said the average size of free egg units in the UK is 32,000 birds. But the council's refusal notice claimed the land which would be lost "positively contributes to the character of the local area and wider landscape."

The council added, "The development has not provided evidence that its impacts could be adequately mitigated in respect of Nutrient Neutrality and therefore, adverse impacts on the Teesmouth and Cleveland Coast Special Protection Area cannot be ruled out in regard to nitrate."

- BBC