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A chicken farm that could host 330,000 birds is set to be built despite a series of animal welfare concerns.

South Holland District Council’s planning committee has approved plans for six poultry houses and associated infrastructure to be built by Northrope Farm, near Donington.

The sheds will each house 55,000 birds from day-old chicks until they are ready to be taken to the table.

Last week, a number of worries were voiced regarding animal welfare and the potential for smell issues at the site - but they were countered by councillors who said the problems are rare.

Resident Kev Bunn attended last Wednesday’s committee meeting to air his frustrations with the project, labelling the chicken sheds as ‘hell holes’.

He raised environmental, moral and sustainability concerns, holding up a piece of A4 paper to highlight the lack of room he believes the birds will have.

Mr Bunn added: “This is not in the best interest of anyone bar the applicant.”

Ian Pick, an agent speaking on behalf of applicants Wray Trading, insisted that lengthy discussions with the Environment Agency have been undertaken ease animal welfare fears.

He said that the Donington site had been chosen due to its remote nature, and added that Wray Trading would aim to provide an ‘enriched environment’ for the chickens.

Coun Jane King, who represents Donington on the district and county councils, was particularly concerned about the chickens’ welfare.

Attending the planning committee meeting in place of Coun Andrew Tennant, she said that ‘big corporations do not care about welfare’.

Coun King said: “If it was being run by the owners of the land I would be a lot more comfortable.”

She added that councillors should be ‘proactive not reactive’ when dealing with the issue.

Coun Simon Walsh backed up that statement, and said the committee should not have to wait until welfare issues arise before acting on them.

He said: “If this was a nuclear station, we would not go in once the radiation is in the air.”

Coun Walsh added that he is particularly concerned about the smell the farm will give off if ‘the wind is blowing in the wrong direction’.

However, councillors were consistently reminded that animal welfare concerns do not play any role in planning decisions.

Coun Bryan Alcock and committee chairman James Avery were amongst those who backed the plans.

They both shared their experiences of working within the farming industry, saying they feel that farms such as this are more often than not willing to follow rules and regulations. Coun Alcock said it will save us importing as much chicken from abroad.

Previous requests to build farm houses had been removed from the application, but could be submitted separately in the future.