Boparan’s Amber Real Estates Investments will demolish four existing poultry buildings at the Sutton Veny farm, and replace them with four new poultry buildings, feed bins and hardstanding.
Each building would hold more than 40,000 chickens, according to local campaign group Spitting Feathers.
Three jobs would be created at the site, according to the planning permission application, granted on August 24.
Impact the environment
Wiltshire Council approved the application, subject to a number of conditions, which included beginning construction with three years. The council concluded the construction wouldn’t adversely impact the environment.
But, Spitting Feathers had been fighting the proposed farm, saying it would damage the local economy, and would generate over 56 decibels of noise.
The local campaign group claimed the chicken farm would result in 30 local job losses, because surrounding businesses would relocate.
‘Smells so strong’
On its website, Spitting Feathers said: “Residents clearly remembered the previous, smaller poultry farm at the same location, which produces smells so strong that residents had to close all their windows and stay inside.
“We have uitilised the help of not only local experts, but environmental consultants, noise consultants, planning consultants and transport consultants, as well as a planning solicitor and a planning barrister. This is what we must do to highlight our concerns and to reinforce our beliefs that this is simply the wrong proposition in this location.”
Boparan declined to comment on the planning permission approval.
Meanwhile, in June, Boparan blamed bird flu for a 39% drop in profit at 2 Sisters Food Group. 2 Sisters’ sales increased 4.8% compared with the same period last year, to £821.9M, while like-for-like sales were up 3.1% to £809M.