Building a free-range poultry unit in a nutrient neutrality catchment has reportedly become impossible.
Consultants Ian Pick and Sam Harison of Harrison Pick, who manage approximately 60% of all free-range poultry applications, assert that while converting an existing cattle shed into a poultry house is theoretically feasible, establishing a new unit in a nutrient neutrality catchment is essentially off the table.
During a British Free Range Producers Association webinar, producers were informed that no new free-range units have been built in such catchments since the regulations were implemented three years ago.
The situation is even more dire in Wales, where not a single poultry unit has been approved since February 2022, leaving the free-range sector stagnant for over two years.
Lack of Common Sense
Frustrations mounted among producers over the perceived lack of common sense from local and national planners. The Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) initiative, intended to enhance green development, is inadvertently penalizing farmers for exceeding minimum requirements.
Producers argued that those who deliver above the mandated 10% uplift are facing legal hurdles and annual monitoring fees as local councils and county ecologists regard this as a significant gain. This has been met with criticism, as it appears to punish individuals striving to enhance the countryside.
Harrison Pick described nutrient neutrality as a “don’t even bother” scenario for free-range systems, stating, “Because our hens range, councils view us as an unsolvable risk. This effectively locks out growth for the very sector that upholds the highest welfare standards and maintains a strong public connection.”
Ever-Tightening Air Quality Regulations
Even if producers somehow manage to traverse the nutrient neutrality obstacles—a task the consultants deem nearly impossible—they face another challenge: increasingly stringent air quality regulations. These regulations are being enforced rigorously, causing setbacks for applications that would have previously sailed through the system.
Producers learned that despite having every report in order and installations compliant, applications could still be rejected following pressure from local planning committees. Notably, fifty local objections hold more weight than thousands of international campaign letters, leading to uncertainty, delays, and increased costs for members. Appeals, once a reliable safeguard, have become slow and inconsistent, adding more strain to producers.
The consultants stressed to the Bfrepa webinar that political calculations often overshadow technical facts, creating an unstable environment for farming businesses trying to strategize for the future.
For more insights, the video of the webinar can be viewed here.
