Breeding farm plan for 3,000 pheasants gets rejected

The plans to transform agricultural land into a game bird breeding facility have been rejected

Plans for a breeding farm for 3,000 pheasants have been rejected by planning officials.

An application had been submitted for a change of use of agricultural land opposite Mead Cottage on Willington Road in Delamere, Cheshire.

The hens would have produced 1,000 eggs a day. They would have been loaded into incubators with newborn chicks before being moved into pens.

The plans had included a wooden mobile lodge-type building for a member of staff but planning officers.

'Complex operation'

Two parish councils had raised concerns over the plans.

Kelsall Parish Council said it was "unclear" whether an on-site rural worker's dwelling was necessary because the business had not been established.

While Willington Parish Council said that avian flu regulations required pheasants to be kept inside but it was "unclear" how the the pens would be secured.

The council's highways department had also objected over "insufficient information".

A planning officer's report stated: "Overall, whilst the gaming operation is complex and highly skilled, from the evidence available, it is not considered there is a need for a full-time worker to be on-site all year round."

It added: "The applicant only lives two miles from the site and could easily respond to incidents if an alarm were raised.

"Furthermore, whilst the change of use is included in this application, which raises concerns in respect of amenity, and there are concerns of highway safety."