August 18, 2020

Powys, Wales, receives most applications for local chicken farms

The Welsh principal area of Powys has secured its position as Wales' "poultry capital", new figures have shown, as it was revealed that close to five times as many applications for chicken farms have been submitted in Powys than across the rest of Wales in the last three years.

This summer, the Local Democracy Reporting Services asked all planning authorities in Wales, and the border counties of Herefordshire and Shropshire, how many planning applications for intensive poultry units had been received between April 1, 2017 and April 1, 2020.

In that period, the data shows that Powys has received 96 applications, of which 75 have been approved, three have been refused and 18 are still in the process of being decided or are still "active."

In the same time frame, planning authorities across the rest of Wales received 20 applications, of which 13 were approved, two were refused, four are still active and one application was withdrawn.

Herefordshire and Shropshire received a combined total of 35 applications, of which 20 were approved, three refused and 12 are still active.

- Hereford Times