A BID to build a chicken shed which would hold 16,000 hens at a farm on the outskirts of Haddington has been rejected by East Lothian Council.

The plans by Clerkington Eggs Ltd proposed expanding the farming at Clerkington Mains into free range egg production.

However, the site of the shed, which would have been just 127 metres from its nearest neighbour, was considered too close.

And despite recommendations from planning officials to support the application, councillors at a planning committee meeting last Wednesday voted by nine votes to three to turn it down.

James Parker, from the farm, said he and his wife, who run it, wanted to diversify part of it by starting a new enterprise producing free range eggs.

The plan was to build the shed, which would be 76 metres long, 19.5 metres wide and 5.5 metres high, in the north-east corner of an agricultural field at the farm, with the hens able to roam the field itself.

He said the shed, which would house the hens at night, would be multi-tiered to allow manure to be removed on a conveyor belt system to a storage area which would be emptied and removed from the farm twice a week.

The committee was told that the shed’s position in the field had been decided after discussion with planning officials.

However, they were told it was just 127 metres from the nearest neighbour at Garden Cottage, 146 metres from category B listed Clerkington Walled Garden, and 294 metres south-west of category B listed Clerkington House Stables.

The owner of Garden Cottage objected to the poultry shed, citing a bid at Leaston, Humbie, six years ago, to build chicken sheds less than 160 metres from residential properties.

That application was refused by East Lothian Council and an appeal to Scottish Ministers was rejected.

Scottish Government guidelines for operations like chicken sheds state they should be 400 metres away from neighbouring residences and downwind.

She acknowledged that planning permission had been given for a similar venture at Howden Farm, Gifford, where the nearest neighbour was 280 metres away, but urged the committee to rule that her house was too close to the latest application.

Charles Stevenson, from Clerkington Stables, also urged councillors to throw out the planning application. He said that Clerkington Mains was a designated landscape of special importance and was of “significant public interest”.

And Hallam Land Management, which is building housing at neighbouring Dovecote Farm, objected, saying that the shed would “affect the local amenity”.

Councillor Tom Trotter, local ward member, said: “If this building had been proposed on another part of the land I could have supported it, but where it is at the moment, I have to stick with the objections.”

Councillor Donald Grant told the committee he remembered the application for Leaston coming forward and being rejected. But he said: “I do not see any planning reason for this to be rejected.”

Meanwhile, Councillor Willie Innes, council leader, said that while he generally believed choosing to live in the countryside meant accepting the ups and downs of countryside living, he could not back the application.

He said: “I think there are other options for where the shed could go and these should be looked at; if it is of the required distance, it is something I can support.”