Plans for a poultry shed in Rutland which has attracted opposition from nearby villagers will come before the planning committee of Rutland County council next week.

Paul Hinch of Hinch Enterprises seeks to build the shed on arable land east of Cottesmore Road, Market Overton.

His revised plans follow him withdrawing a similar application after an outcry from residents last year.

Such opposition has led to the planning application to come before councillors at the committee meeting next Tuesday (July 28).

However, planning officers recommend members grant approval.

A report prepared for the meeting further says the applications shows the unit "will not cause pollution issues in the local area by virtue of the distance between the building and sensitive receptors and the controls that are in place through an Environment Agency Environmental Permit which controls the issues most worrying to the community."

It continued: "The use of land for an agricultural building is acceptable in principle and with landscaping proposals and the height of the building relative to the road it will not present an unduly prominent structure in the landscape. The scheme is therefore policy compliant and there are no sustainable reasons for withholding planning permission."

The application site is a relatively flat arable field on the east side of Cottesmore Road on the southern edge of Market Overton, some 400 metres from the nearest buildings on the edge of the village.

Hinch Enterprises operate an agricultural business in the area which extends to 750 acres and is based on arable farming and free-range egg production enterprises.

The applicants currently operate three free range egg laying units at Greetham, Stretton, and Ryhall and the scale of the whole free-range egg production business extends to 215,500 free range hens across the three farms.

The development proposal seeks planning permission for the erection of a shed for the rearing of pullets from 1 day old to point of lay, to supply the applicant's existing 3 free range egg laying units.

The report continued: "The site will operate with 3 flocks of birds per annum, producing an annual throughput of 240,000 birds per annum. The proposed pullet rearing unit will supply 100% of the laying hens required by the applicant's free-range egg units.

"The proposed development will add to the sustainability of the existing farming business and point of lay pullets will be produced at this site by the applicants, rather than being purchased from rearing farms in Yorkshire and Scotland as currently occurs.

"The proposed development will be controlled by the Environment Agency through the Environmental Permitting Regime which places the highest level of protection on the environment and amenity of neighbours. An application to the Environment Agency for an Environmental Permit has now been approved and a Permit issued."

However, consultation by the council council found concerns from Market Overton Parish Council over potential odour effects, which it feared could harm the village, including its pub, shop, café, lodge, other premises, and villagers.

Objections were also received from 38 local residents who also feared smells, issues with manure and storage, plus flies.

However, the report listed measures were in place to remedy this, and flies and odours would not be an issue.

It also said: "The building will have a visual impact as the field is currently vacant and used for arable production. However, the appearance of a large poultry unit in the countryside is not unusual. The area has no special designations in terms of landscape quality and the site has a backdrop from the north west of Kendrew Barracks. The landscape mitigation measures are acceptable."