PLANS for three extra poultry buildings could see an additional 130,000 chickens housed at a farm in Wix.

HAB Poultry has applied to Tendring Council for permission to build the 110-metre-long chicken sheds alongside associated infrastructure at Treestacks Farm in Oakley Road.

The farm currently has two poultry houses, each housing 44,000 broiler chickens.

The additional buildings would bring the total number of birds to 220,000.

The application will go before the council’s planning committee on Tuesday after being called in by ward councillor Michael Bush, due to “concerns relating to the significant increase to this existing industrial farming facility and the lack of economic benefits to the local economy”.

Wix Parish Council also raised concerns about additional and called for a speed limit of 40mph to imposed on Harwich Road.

A report by the applicant said: “The proposed development involves an investment in buildings and infrastructure by the applicants of approximately £2million.

“It will offer a substantial initial cash injection into the rural economy through the construction phase and will generate a requirement for an additional full-time worker on the site.

“The proposed development is a modern and efficient, livestock production unit that is designed to fulfil a modern demand for affordable and environmentally efficiently produced food.

“It therefore contributes to food production and national food security in a sustainable way The proposal will increase the supply of poultry meat, reducing the need for imports and so reduce food miles.

“The United Kingdom is currently only 65 per cent self-sufficient in poultry meat, with 35 per cent currently imported from overseas.”

The plans have been recommended for approval by the district council’s planning officers.

A report said: “The proposal is in planning terms considered to be an agricultural use within an agricultural area “The buildings are considered to be characteristic of agricultural buildings, are of a limited height and are well set back from the main highway.”

“Furthermore additional landscaping and biodiversity mitigation measures are proposed which would largely screen the development and enhance the biodiversity of the surrounding area.”