A new building housing 20,000 chickens could be constructed at a poultry farm in Hunmanby if plans are approved.

A 50m long building for 20,000 chickens is set to be built at Cansdale Farm if John Sleightholme’s application gets the green light.

The proposal aims to improve the space and welfare standards at the poultry farm, and would not increase the total number of birds across the site.

The 20,000 birds that would be accommodated in the new unit would be redistributed from across the existing sheds on site, enabling lower stocking densities to be achieved across all buildings in line with the requirements of the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC), the applicant said.

Cansdale Farm, Hunmanby - proposed site of building to house 20,000 chickens.

placeholder image — Cansdale Farm, Hunmanby - proposed site of building to house 20,000 chickens.

The Better Chicken Commitment is the “leading industry standard for broiler welfare, driving the food supply chain towards higher welfare practices”, and the applicant’s “commitment to the BCC is the primary driver behind this proposal”.

The proposed building would be approximately 50m long and 31m wide with a gross internal floor area of approximately 1,559m².

The BCC requires suppliers to meet a maximum stocking density of 30kg/m² or less, which plans state is a “significant reduction from the current UK legal maximum” of 38kg/m², alongside requirements for higher welfare breeds, improved environmental standards within the building, and enhanced lighting and enrichment provisions.

In order to maintain an economically viable unit whilst transitioning to lower stocking densities across all buildings, additional floor space is required, Sleightholme Farms Ltd said.

“The proposed new building will provide the extra floor area needed to accommodate the existing flock at the lower BCC stocking density, without increasing the total number of birds on site.”

Submitted plans state that the new building will be operated using high-velocity, ridge-mounted ventilation extraction fans and internal equipment will include indirect heating, pan feeders, and non-drip nipple drinkers.

A thermostatically controlled computer system will regulate temperature, ventilation, feeding, and lighting within the building.

The applicant added that there would be no increase in ammonia emissions or odour from the site, and that there would be no increase in vehicle movements associated with the poultry enterprise.

North Yorkshire Council has not set a date for deciding on the scheme which is open to representations.