A free-range egg-laying bird farm is to be built near a Mid Wales village after planning officers revealed objections had been removed.
They reversed their opposition to the unit on land south of Lower Cwm, Llandegley, near Llandrindod Wells in a report to Powys Council’s county planning committee on Tuesday. Councillors supported the plan unanimously.
Planning officer Gwilym Davies said key issues had included an objection from the Countryside Council for Wales, on grounds of insufficient information.
He said: “The applicant has submitted extra information to resolve the problem and CCW has withdrawn its objection.”
He said: “The site is in a prominent location amongst agricultural fields, but the applicant, Ben Duggan, is willing to put a soil bund behind the unit, planting it with 1.5m high trees, to obscure the site from views from Llandegley.
“The bund will travel alongside the hedgerow, completely covering the side of the unit.”
He added that the building would go on this site because two listed buildings, an outbuilding and farmhouse, were at the applicant’s nearby farm, Cwm Farm.
“Land use compatibility and the lay of the land meant it was impossible to put it behind the farm, so this is the location we’re supporting,” he said.
Regarding highway safety, he added that improvements would be made to a nearby junction with the A44.
“The applicant is proposing five passing bays on the lane between the site and the A44, which is a significant improvement to the road infrastructure,” he said.
“The applicant has also agreed to pull hedgerows on both sides of the junction back by three or four metres, significantly improving visibility.”
Councillor Fred Barker, the local member, speaking in favour of the application, said: “I am delighted the planning officer is recommending approval and hope the committee will address that, subject to safeguards.
“I would like to emphasise how important it is to the farmers to be able to diversify in order to survive. It is only by schemes of this kind that they can hope to go on, and we have a responsibility to support them in any way we can.”
Councillor David Price, proposing approval, said: “It is eminently sensible and I think we have no option but to support this.”
• Read more on page 3 of Mid Wales Journal, October 3, 2008. Reports by Mike Sivier.
