Poultry farm gets go ahead

COUNCILLORS have given the go-ahead to poultry unit revamp plans which aim to boost the amount of chicken being produced in the UK

Durham County Council’s County Planning Committee met to discuss plans for the buildings at Hurworth Burn Farm, near Wingate.

Applicant, Amber Real Estate Investments, aims to replace the existing sheds at the farm in Hurworth Burn Road, which would increase capacity for broiler chickens to 240,000 birds or 38kg per square metre.

The broiler farm was built around 50 years ago and proposals include replacing the existing 12 poultry sheds - which had a capacity of 165,000 - with four newer buildings.

Following discussion, councillors voted to approve the plans with one refusal and two abstentions.