Around 250 objections to major Oxfordshire chicken farm

Residents and local societies have spoken out against the proposal for a broiler breeder farm at Deanery Farm just north of Bampton, which would include 36,000 hens and more roosters.

The planning application has been submitted to West Oxfordshire District Council with the consultation having officially ended last week although more objections have been made since then.

READ MORE: UK firm defends plans for 36,000-chicken Oxfordshire farm

Communities Against Factory Farming has raised objections including around air quality and ammonia, water supply and hydrology, waste management, and the risk of avian influenza.

Meanwhile Richard McBrien, chair of the Society for the Protection of Bampton listed 17 specific points of opposition.

Bampton village (Image: Perry Bishop)

He said: “In the absence of robust, site-specific evidence demonstrating that odour, air quality, and environmental impacts can be effectively controlled, and having regard to the proximity of sensitive receptors including residential properties and a primary school, the proposal gives rise to a clear and unacceptable risk of harm.”

A former judge, Christopher Compston, rejected the plan in a joint statement which included his wife.

He said this was “on the grounds of public health concerns and the fact that this is an industrial-scale development on the outskirts of an Oxfordshire village”.

Deanery Farm near Bampton (Image: Google Maps)

Meanwhile People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) said more than 13,000 people had signed an application urging the district council to reject the proposal.

Deanery Farm was purchased by P D Hook Group, a leading UK poultry breeder and rearer, in 2023 with broiler breeder farms raising parent-stock chickens (hens and roosters) to produce fertile eggs, which are then sent to hatcheries to become broiler chickens (chickens bred for meat).

Patrick Hook, owner of the 75-year-old family-owned poultry farming business, said: “We have nearly 40 farms in the south and north of England with a strong positive reputation with local residents, retailers and the agricultural industry.”

Oxfordshire farmer Patrick Hook

He added it would be built to strict environmental standards, which means wastewater is captured in tanks, litter is taken from the farm and a natural fertiliser is used.

“The UK chicken market,” Mr Hook said, “is seeing strong demand for Red Tractor British Chicken”.

READ MORE: Farm with 36,000 chickens planned near Oxfordshire village

He continued: “If we fail to get planning to build more poultry farms, we are increasing the risk of sub-standard imports coming in from countries such as China, which is now the eighth largest importer of poultry meat into the UK.

“With increasing global volatility we must support growth in British agriculture to help the country’s food security.”

Officers from Oxfordshire County Council departments submitted statements on the plans with transport raising no objections and flooding saying it is “acceptable in principle”,

The archaeology officer said that more information is required and has asked for an archaeological field evaluation to be carried out by a professional organisation.