New 360,000-Bird Poultry Farm Proposed Near Ripon

A major new poultry farm capable of housing 360,000 chickens at a time has been proposed for a site near Ripon.

Forest Poultry Ltd has submitted plans to develop the large-scale facility on land south of York Gate Farm, off Underlands Lane in Melmerby.

If approved, the development would become one of the largest poultry operations in the area, producing an estimated 2.7 million chickens every year.

What’s Being Proposed?

The plans include:

• Six poultry houses, each holding 60,000 birds
• Automated feeding and drinking systems
• LPG heating and fan-assisted ventilation
• A central control room
• Nine feed bins
• Water storage and containment tanks
• A backup generator
• Staff welfare and office facilities

The company says the site would use modern technology to manage bird welfare, energy efficiency and day-to-day operations.

How Would the Farm Operate?

According to planning documents, day-old chicks would arrive at the site and be reared for around 38 days.

Around 30 per cent of the flock would be removed after approximately 30 days, with the remaining birds leaving between days 37 and 38 for processing.

After each cycle, the poultry houses would stand empty for around 10 days while cleaning and preparation work takes place before the next flock arrives.

Renewable Energy Included

Developers say the scheme would incorporate measures aimed at reducing energy consumption.

Each poultry building would feature heat exchanger technology designed to improve efficiency and lower gas use.

The roofs would also support solar photovoltaic panels capable of generating around 100kW of renewable electricity per building.

Why Is It Being Built?

Forest Poultry says demand for chicken products continues to grow across the UK and that additional production capacity is needed to help meet consumer demand.

The company estimates the site would operate around seven and a half production cycles each year.

A Proposal Likely to Spark Debate

Large-scale poultry developments often attract strong views from both supporters and opponents.

Supporters point to food production, investment and employment opportunities, while critics frequently raise concerns about traffic, odour, environmental impacts and the scale of intensive farming.

As the application progresses through the planning process, local residents and interested parties will have the opportunity to review the proposals and submit their comments.

What Do You Think?

Would a development of this scale benefit the local economy, or are there concerns that need to be addressed before any decision is made?

Share your views and join the discussion.

Read the BBC report: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g8n2v5102o