Plans to create a 330,000-bird poultry unit in Donington have been submitted.
With the proposed six sheds – each housing 55,000 chickens – will be two houses for workers at the unit.
The application is for land at Gibbet Fen and has been submitted to South Holland District Council on behalf of Wray Trading Ltd, of Northorpe Farm, Donington.
According to a design and access statement submitted with the application, the proposal reflects a £6m investment in the area and will offer job security.
“The applicants propose to diversify their agricultural business through the development of a poultry unit which will be used for the production of broiler chickens,” says the application.
The unit will operate an ‘all-in, all-out’ policy with each flock expected to remain 48 days from day-old chicks to finished table weight birds.
Each of the planned six poultry houses will be 109m (357ft) x 24m (78ft) with a ridge height of 5.7m (18.7ft).
Alongside the poultry houses will be nine feed bins and two underground dirty water tanks. A plant room will also be constructed along with a clean water tank and a dead bird shed.
There will also be two, three-bedroom bungalows for workers.
“At the end of each flock cycle, the poultry manure is removed from the buildings with the process taking approximately two hours per building,” says the application.
Access to the proposed unit will be from an existing field access from the A52, Fen Road, which is currently unmade. The application estimates there will be a total of 1,560 commercial vehicle movements a year associated with the new unit.
The plan has ‘strong economic benefits’ says the application and represents a £6m investment by the applicants.
