THE best laid plans of a developer are set to be scuppered with town planners set to refuse permission to build a 16,000-hen chicken house in Marton.

An application to build a new farm building in the village which could house thousands of birds has been recommended for refusal by Barrow Borough Council.

The application will be thrown into the long grass due to the fears it would cause "significant harm to an area of countryside" as well as concerns over environmental impact on nearby habitat.

If refused this would be the second time an application at the same site has been turned down by the borough council.

In 2010 an application was refused at committee but was subsequently withdrawn by the applicant before a refusal notice could be served.

Seven years later the project has elicited a strong response from the local community.

One resident living in the nearby Silver Street wrote in opposition, saying: "We strongly object to the plans. This significant development is too close to the village, looking at the plan why on earth is the proposal to grow even closer to the village? Why not close to existing buildings?"

In the report given to council members, planning officers said: "The building and its associated infrastructure including ground-works would result in significant harm to an area of countryside designated as a County Landscape."

It goes on to say the supposed economic benefits which could arise from this development do not outweigh its potential to have an "adverse impact upon the landscape and the potential adverse impacts upon the natural environment."

The Mail contacted the applicant, Fred Saunders of Tarn Flatt, for comment on the planning application.

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