Well House Farm
Environmental Permit Application
OBJECT NOW!
Well House Farm
Deadline: 10 November
Please submit your objection to this Intensive Poultry Unit environmental permit application.
Colwell, Hexham, Northumberland, NE46 4HX
How to Object to the Environmental Permit Application
Copy the objection comments below.
Click the ‘Object Now’ button below.
Scroll down on the Environment Agency page and click ‘Share your views.’
At Question 4, copy-paste the objection below.
I urge the EA not to grant a permit.
1. I object to application EPR/XP3126LG/A001 for an environmental permit for 220,000 broiler chickens in four poultry houses at Well House Farm, Colwell, Hexham, Northumberland, NE46 4HX.
2. This application is for broiler places in excess of 85,000 and therefore requires a full Environmental Impact Assessment under Schedule 1, para. 17 of the EIA Regulations 2017.
3. This application should be ‘twin tracked’ with the planning application process. The applicant has applied for planning permission via Northumberland County Council (reference 25/03717/FULES). The planning authority cannot grant permission without reviewing the EIA, under section 3 of the EIA Regulations 2017, and I urge the EA not to grant a permit before the EIA has been reviewed and this planning application has been decided.
4. This application is for four poultry units housing 220,000 broilers. This represents a “diversification and intensification of an existing agricultural enterprise,” according to the applicant’s Environmental Statement in the planning application. This intensification is a material change of use under section 55 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, and therefore requires full assessment.
5. Possible detrimental effects on water quality in the Northumbria River Basin District need to be fully assessed.
6. Additionally, this development will likely use significant amounts of water; the full implications of this on the local water supply need to be examined.
7. The application represents a significant intensification with serious consequences to the amenity of local people, tourists, public health, the environment, and the animals.
8. Increases in odours, dust, ammonia, pollution, traffic, manure, waste, dirty water, greenhouse gas emissions, and the downstream direct and indirect impacts on people, ancient woodlands, SAC/SSSIs protected sites, the climate, and rivers must all be assessed as part of the planning consultation process.
9. Given the serious potential environmental consequences of this application, it is extremely important that no permit is granted prior to planning permission being granted, as the EIA will only be reviewed during the planning consultation process.
The Environment Agency should refuse this application.