Proposed on behalf of Amber Real Estate Investments, of which Ranjit Singh Boparan is a director, the application to Flintshire County Council seeks to significantly increase the capacity of the poultry facility.
The current capacity of the facility is 114,400 birds across eight houses. If approved, the capacity would extend to 171,000 birds, spread across three larger houses, each with a capacity of 57,000.
In its proposal, it outlines that site will continue to be operated as a broiler unit, rearing chickens for meat production. Each house would be initially stocked with day old chicks that are grown on for a maximum period of 49 days and then transferred off the holding for processing at Sandycroft.
Odour, traffic and noise
It expects that odour emissions can be minimised at the source via the application of procedures and techniques recommended in the Code of Good Agricultural Practice from Defra.
It also calculated the additional number of trips the extra capacity would create. It believes that it would increase from 84 trips (or 168 two-way movements) over a seven-week period to 111 trips (222 two-way movement) over the same amount of time, leading to an increase of 0.6 trips per day.
The proposal added that while there are a number of sources of noise in and around a poultry unit, including ventilation fans, lorries and other vehicles, the new buildings will be fitted with significantly improved ventilation fans, most of which are contained within cowls directed upwards. It stated that the orientation, age and condition of these fans will all ensure that additional noise generated will be minimal.
The proposals are currently in the consultation period in which the local Planning Authority seeks comments from statutory bodies and the public.