The Black Plume

Sedgeford poultry farm application approved by west Norfolk councillors

West Norfolk Borough Council approves plans for a high intensity poultry farm near Sedgeford, in the north west of the county.

The farm will comprise four buildings, each 20.1m by 91.4m, that each hold 45,000 broiler hens (i.e. chickens raised for meat rather than egg production). According to Newcome Baker Farm’s own application this equates to 38kg/m2; at an average maximum weight of 2.5kg that broilers reach before slaughter, that means there are approximately 15 chickens per square metre. This falls below even the RSCPA’s already poor “Freedom Foods” expectations.

• Website for the proposed development. Note the use of the word “farm” rather than factory: a facile attempt at distraction and PR control that continues throughout the entire website. For example, there are almost no details about the actual development itself even on the so-called “The Facts” tab.
• The planning applications submitted by Newcome Baker Farms Ltd to West Norfolk Borough Council. These contain actual details.
• List of appointed directors. Other businesses owned by them include Fakenham Racecouse, South Pickenham Estate which holds regular pheasant shooting days, and “Countrywise Sports Ltd” and “West Norfolk Amateur Racing Club Ltd” that both  seem to be shell companies for who knows what. A bunch of lovely people, in other words.

While the No to Poultry Factory campaign focuses primarily on the impact that Whin Close Poultry Farm will have on the local human community, this is an important issue for people in Norfolk that give a shit about animals and the earth.