Farm plans fourth poultry shed

A poultry farm in the west of Herefordshire is the latest in the county to seek permission for new premises as part of moves across the sector to higher-welfare bird rearing.

GP & JD Price of Pool House Farm, Acton Beauchamp southwest of Bromyard, is seeking an “Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) screening opinion” for a planned fourth poultry house at the farm, along with feed bins and a new storage building.

Slightly larger than the existing three at the farm, the new structure would cover 3,873 square metres, or just under an acre, a plan with the application shows.

No other documentation of the bid has been published on Herefordshire Council’s planning webpage.

A spokesperson for the farm said: “We are a low-density and we intend to stay low-density,” as its main retail customer “likes them to have room”.

Having previously reduced flock numbers from 90,000 to 60,000, the fourth shed will bring the number back up to 80,000, “so still less under the new regime”, they added.

The council expects to make a decision by May 19 on whether an EIA will be needed with the proposal. It is not taking comments at this stage.

A full planning application would then be expected.

Environmental screening opinions for similar planned poultry structures have recently been sought by Whittern Farms of Lyonshall (decision pending), Parkway Poultry Farm near Madley (pending) and Vaughan Farms of Kingsland (EIA required).