Massive hen house for Marsh Benham - locals say it is a factory farm

Plans for a massive egg farm near Newbury have been hatched.

The proposal at Bradfords Farm near Marsh Benham could see around 32,000 hens there.

The existing free range egg laying units on the site are dated, according to the applicant who proposes to remove the existing six poultry houses from the site and replace it with a new purpose-built free-range egg laying unit.

But it has the locals in a flap as they fear the large unit and processing buildings will have a significant detrimental effect on visual amenity and the character of the special landscape area.

They have even raised fears of a spread of bird flu and have questioned the ‘free range’ credentials of such a large site.

“If it's three levels how can this be described as free range; they're not running around outside as they do now,” said one objector. “It sounds very industrial what happens to all the waste and run off into the river?”

The plans say the egg laying building is subdivided into two bird housing sections, together with a service area at the western end which will include egg packing and storage facilities.

The birds lay eggs for 70 weeks - then they are sold and replaced.

The bird housing areas include a multi-tier system, which includes rows of tiered perches, which are situated over manure belts. The bird areas include automated chain feeders and non-drip nipple drinkers. Following laying, the eggs role from the nest box onto the conveyor, which delivers them to the service area at the western end of the building

“The facility would appear as a harsh intrusion into the open countryside that would be visually intrusive and would have a harmful urbanising impact on the appearance, the wider character of the area,” said another objector.

Marsh Benham Conservation Area lies less than 1km away to the east of the site.

Objectors say the public footpath that crosses the field is in constant use by residents of Marsh Benham and Stockcross, along with visiting walkers. They say it crosses a predominantly open field that contains skylarks, red kites, kestrels, roe and muntjac deer, badgers, rabbits, hares, and multiple hedgerow birds.

“The proposed development with its associated activity, large areas of hardstanding and access roadway would significantly diminish the biodiversity potential of the landscape and with it the enjoyment of those walking the footpath, who presently have views across and out of the valley to the features of the landscape,” they say.