Agenda item

To consider an application for the demolition of existing poultry farm and erection of a poultry unit for turkey breeding comprising 2 no. linked poultry units with associated feed bins, tractor shed, hardstandings, access road, new vehicular access and associated works (copy attached).

An application was submitted for the demolition of existing poultry farm and erection of a poultry unit for turkey breeding comprising 2 no. linked poultry units with associated feed bins, tractor shed, hardstandings, access road, new vehicular access and associated works on Bryn Golau, Saron in Denbigh.

 

Public Speaker –

 

Sam Harrison (Agent) (For) – the existing farm had 7 poultry houses and operates with an environmental permit which was issued and controlled by NRW for the rearing of broiler chickens, the site currently had a capacity of 87,200 birds with around 7.5 flocks each year. It is proposed to demolish the existing farm and replace it with a modern turkey breeder unit which would be designed with the best techniques, unlike the current units in situ. Following the development, the farm would operate as a turkey laying unit producing fertile eggs for hatching. The capacity of the new farm would be 6000 birds consisting of 5,500 hens and 500 stag turkeys and the new development would create 5 full time jobs on the site.

 

The development was a far less intensive use of the existing broiler units. The turkey cycle is based on the 36 week turkey breeding cycle, with birds being housed for approximately 28 weeks following the site then being emptied for cleaning and preparation for 8 weeks. The proposal amounts to breeding 1.6 flocks per annum opposed to the existing 7.5 flocks per annum.

 

The impact of the development had been assessed through various technical reports covering odour, noise, ammonia, ecology, transport and waste management. The development would implement a number of improvements including, but not limited to, a reduction in odour and ammonia, the reduction of nighttime catching operations and a reduction in daytime traffic. The appraisal had been fully appraised from a technical standpoint by NRW, Highways, Ecology and Environmental Health, all of whom had raised no objections subject to conditions.

 

General debate –

 

Councillor Elfed Williams (local member) raised concerns regarding the operational hours of the site and the position of the entrance/ access to the site. Referring to condition 10 –

 

Notwithstanding the hereby approved plans an documents, all deliveries, the transport of live poultry from the site (with the exception of live bird transport which can be undertaken outside these hours) shall take place Monday -Friday 07.00- 19.00hrs, Saturday 07.00 – 17.00hrs and Sundays and Public Holidays 10.00- 16.00hrs only.

 

It was felt unreasonable for the operational hours to be late at night during the week and a request was made that the operational hours were changed from 19.00 to 17.00hrs during the week, due to the noise disturbance this could cause local residents. It was highlighted that for a period of 6 weeks throughout the year lorries could arrive anytime over a 24hour period.

 

The biggest concern for local residents and Llanrhaeadr Yng Nghinmeirch Community Council was access to the site. The proposed new access to the site was in close proximity to a set of crossroads which was not appropriate for large vehicles entering and leaving the site. It was requested that the access proposed for the site was moved to a different area away from the crossroads and neighbouring properties.

 

The Development Control Manager informed members of the Committee of their options as follows –

·       The local member could propose alternative wording for condition 10. Granting the application subject to condition 10 being amended.

·       The access point was a fundamental part of the proposed application and members of the Committee could not change the access as shown. Members would need to assess the information from Officers and Highways Engineers before them and conclude whether the access shown was acceptable. If it was felt to be unacceptable, members would need to refuse the application.

·       The application be deferred to allow officers to conduct discussions with the applicant regarding amending the proposal in terms of the location of the access to the site and hours of operation.

 

Councillor Alan James questioned the distance between the current access to the site and the new proposed access to the site. The Principal Planning Officer referred members to the ariel view plan within the application and highlighted the existing and proposed new access to the site.

 

Councillor Huw Hilditch-Roberts questioned operational hours currently at the site. The Principal Planning Officer stated that there were currently no controls over the delivery or operational hours on the existing permission on the site. 

 

Proposal –

 

Councillor Elfed Williams PROPOSED the application be deferred until Officers contacted the applicant in relation to access to the site and operational hours. Councillor Delyth Jones SECONDED the application be deferred.

 

Vote –

For – 14

Against – 4

Abstain – 1

 

RESOLVED: that the planning application be DEFERRED.