PLANS for a shed to house more than 48,000 chickens in the Borders have have been submitted to the local council.
Scottish Borders Council planners are considering a bid for the egg-laying facility at Middlestots Farm in Duns, on land east of Kimmerghame Heugh.
The owners are hoping to diversify their agricultural farming business into the poultry sector.
A report with the application states: “The development introduces additional employees helping with financial regeneration in the rural community and area.
“The scheme supports a general manager and two personnel workers for the agricultural intentions which relies on specific range sizes for hen welfare, well-being and free-range criteria.
“The chicken shed including all equipment and surfaces will be routinely cleaned to ensure good biosecurity measures are in place to reduce the risk of disease and improve hen welfare.”
In March, a similar application for a free-range chicken facility with a capacity of around 32,000 was given the green light.
The applicant was the owner of the Whitsome Laws Farm, also near Duns.
The council approved the plans following a report from the applicant which argued that diversification in the farming indsutry was a "necessity" in order to create "a sustainable and future-proof position for the current farming family."
The applicant said: "The necessity to diversify the existing agricultural business, is in order to create a sustainable and future-proof position for the current farming family, the next generation and hopefully those to follow after.
“With the arable sector being extremely volatile with fluctuating grain prices and a dependence on weather conditions, a diversification into a mixed enterprise offers more sustainability and security for the business and family.”
