Agenda item
Erection of a
free-range egg production unit including silos and associated works
LOCAL MEMBER: Councillor Gareth Williams
Decision:
To approve subject to the following conditions:
1.
Commence within five years.
2.
In accordance with the plans
3.
The roof and external walls to be of a dark green colour to
match the existing shed.
4.
The colour of the feed bins to match the existing.
5.
Agricultural use of the building only.
6.
Submission of a landscaping plan
7.
A Noise Impact Assessment to be submitted prior to the
commencement of the development
8.
Submission of an Assessment of the Impact of Pollution from
Particulate Matter prior to the commencement of the development
9.
Submission of a Biodiversity Enhancement Plan prior to the
commencement of the development
10. A revised Manure
Management Plan to be submitted prior to the commencement of the development
Minutes:
Application
to erect a structure for the production of free-range eggs including
foundations and associated works
Attention was drawn to the late observations form.
a) The
Development Control Team Leader expanded on the background to the application,
and noted that it was an application to construct an agricultural unit to house
chickens to produce free-range eggs, along with the construction of silos and
associated works at Fferm Crugeran,
Sarn Mellteyrn. The
proposed shed would be located parallel to an existing chicken shed on the
site; it would of the same design and size and would house up to 32,000 laying
hens. The four feed silos would be approximately 6.8m high and of a grey-blue
colour, situated adjacent to the shed.
It
was reported that the site was located in the
countryside and within a Special Landscape Area, the Registered Historic
Landscape of Llŷn and Bardsey.
In terms of visual amenities, the setting of the existing chicken shed is
comparatively flat within an rolling landscape, which
ensures that there are only occasional views of the existing shed from the
nearby landscape. It does not appear obtrusive or out of place within the
Special Landscape Area. The proposed shed would be situated parallel to the
existing shed; therefore the proposed shed would be
screened to an extent from the most prominent views.
It
was explained that there were some residential dwellings in
the vicinity of the site. No objections were received
to the proposal from local residents, which was positive and underlined the way
the farm was managed. The Council's Public Protection Unit was
consulted regarding the noise issues. The Unit did not consider that the
Noise Management Plan received was sufficient. It was
recommended, due to the rural location of the unit, that a Noise
Assessment should be undertaken and agreed prior to the commencement of the
unit's construction to ensure that the unit did not have a noise impact on
nearby residents and did not unacceptably increase the area's background noise
level.
It
was proposed to use the farm's existing access and the
access track to the existing shed to serve the proposal. In terms of transport
patterns, it was expected that a HGV lorry would come
to the farm 2/3 times a month transporting chicken feed, as is the arrangement
with the existing chicken shed. Eggs were to be collected every three days and
vehicles transporting new chickens were expected to
arrive once every 13 months. Apart from
this, there would be the daily comings and goings by farm workers. The
Transportation Unit had noted that they had no objections to the application
and that they only anticipated a small addition in traffic levels.
Having
considered all the relevant matters, including local and national policies and
guidance, together with the observations received following the consultation
process, it was deemed that the proposal was
acceptable subject to the inclusion of conditions.
b) Taking advantage of the right to speak, the applicant noted the
following points:
·
That he was
very happy with the way the existing shed had strengthened their agricultural
business.
·
The existing shed had taken its place very
well within the landscape.
·
They were a Welsh-speaking family and
business - a second shed would offer more work opportunities for local
Welsh-speakers.
·
All
agencies, including NRW, were happy with the license and the application for
the second shed.
·
The demand for free-range eggs was
increasing due to the hens' well-being, as well as being a healthy product.
·
In addition to the eggs, the manure was
also very valuable due to a decrease in the use of artificial fertiliser and
the fact that it was healthier for the soil.
·
Developing a wide-ranging and strong
business was very important in looking to the future, giving the opportunity
for his children, two sons and one daughter, to earn a living in Pen Llŷn.
c) Taking
advantage of the right to speak, the Local Member made the following points:
·
That he fully supported the application.
·
He had received no complaints from the Botwnnog area during the consultation period.
·
The existing shed had been an excellent way to raise money
in the area by holding open days, as well as raising funds towards the Pen Llŷn National Eisteddfod in the near future.
·
The existing shed did not affect the landscape - it
took its place very neatly and suited the surrounding landscape.
·
Following the owners' success, and since the shed was
built in Autumn 2017, the third flock of hens had now
arrived at the farm. One full-time
manager worked on the site along with six local people on a part-time basis
·
Due to the success of the enterprise, the farm business
had been strengthened and work had been secured for
those who worked there - the owners were always looking for ways to develop the
business for their own benefit and that of future generations.
·
The chicken manure had created financial savings in terms
of artificial fertiliser to improve the quality of the land.
·
There was a higher demand for free-range eggs as they
were healthy to eat.
·
The family created employment for local
Welsh-speakers. This was an excellent opportunity to create more opportunities
for young local people to work in their own area. With more and more outsiders
from across the border purchasing houses in Pen Llŷn,
opportunities to find work 'at home' were sure to decrease.
·
Crugeran's
first enterprise with the chicken shed had been an outstanding success, and he
was therefore supportive of the application for a second shed
ch) It was proposed and seconded to
approve the application
d)
During the ensuing discussion, the
following observations were made by members:
·
The business created local employment
·
The buildings for agricultural use were
located on agricultural land
·
The family managed the business
responsibly
·
The shed was located on an expanse of land
·
Such an enterprise was important for rural
areas
e) In response to a question regarding the area of land for the chickens,
it was noted that there was one hectare for 2000
chickens. It was added that the chickens were released
from the shed on a rotational basis, and were free to roam within the shed and
out in the fields. It was noted that the applicant was
required to comply with requirements for the well-being of chickens.
RESOLVED
To
approve subject to the following conditions:
1.
Commence within five years.
2. In accordance with the plans.
3. The
roof and external walls to be of a dark green colour to match the existing
shed.
4. The colour of the feed bins to
match the existing.
5. Agricultural use of the building
only.
6. Submission of a landscaping plan
7. A
Noise Impact Assessment to be submitted prior to the
commencement of the development
8. Submission
of an Assessment of the Impact of Pollution from Particulate Matter prior to
the commencement of the development
9. Submission
of a Biodiversity Enhancement Plan prior to the commencement of the development
10. A
revised Manure Management Plan to be submitted prior
to the commencement of the development
Supporting documents:
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