EAST LOTHIAN EGGS

As the rural sector looks to modernise and decarbonise, several challenges are facing UK farmers and the wider population.

What does sustainability mean in modern agriculture?
How can we sustainably feed our growing population?
How can we manage the ever-changing climate of agriculture better?

Long-term sustainability was a key component of East Lothian Eggs’ proposed new egg production unit at Howden Farm. They approached Cogeo to support their ambitious growth proposal through the planning process.

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

32,000 Bird Unit
Heat Supplied by a Ground-source Heat Pump
Electricity Supplied by a Solar Array
£1.6 m Project
EIA Planning Application
Total Production Facility 64,000 Birds

GALLERY

OUR EXPERTISE

Planning Process
Screening Opinion, Scoping Opinion & Planning Application
Environmental Impact Assessment
Ecological Impact and Hydrology
Landscape & Visual Impact Assessment
Air Quality Impact Assessment
Planning Committee

APPROACH & SOLUTIONS

The challenge for the East Lothian Eggs project was not the extent of the proposed development but the scale of the overall operation at Howden farm. Under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) regulations, any site for poultry with over 60,000 birds requires the planning application to be accompanied by an EIA.

Although the proposed shed was to house 32,000 birds, East Lothian Council considered the cumulative impact with the existing East Lothian Eggs 32,000 bird unit on site, the adjacent Howden Eggs 32,000 and Scott Eggs 16,000 bird units on Howden Farm. Therefore, the Council returned a positive Screening Opinion. This decision would mean an EIA must accompany the planning application.

The cumulative impact of poultry units has come under the spotlight in UK planning in recent years. Whilst the EIA process creates a longer duration, the certainty provided confirms that the development will not breach the strict regulations accompanying poultry sheds in Scotland. The reassurance this offers the operator is more far-reaching than just granting planning consent, with significant fines imposed on those who breach environmental guidelines.

Cogeo's role in the process was coordinating the EIA and planning application. It included detailed cumulative assessments for odour, ammonia and dust, landscape and visual impacts, noise, ecological impact and hydrology. As part of the development, our Landscape team proposed planting plans to help absorb the shed units into their rural setting.

OUTCOME

The application was called into the planning committee by Local Members to allow scrutiny of the proposal. During the committee meeting, Dave Anderson, our Director, fielded questions regarding environmental impacts and planning issues. The applicant, Michael Scott, provided insight into the operation of the existing and proposed sheds. Following a lengthy open question session with members, we resolved any concerns, and the planning committee unanimously approved the application.

Cogeo's Associate Director, Bethan Lewis, commented, "This project was challenging for all the right reasons. The Council identified several environmental concerns during the scoping stage, which allowed us to focus on the main environmental challenges. This confident approach from the Local Planning Authority and consultees permitted the committee to focus only on key issues and facilitated a detailed and relevant discussion.

For Cogeo, this project is absolutely one that meets our desire to deliver solutions and positive outcomes to both challenging and sustainable rural economy projects. Using onsite renewables shows you can make a genuine impact by looking at a project holistically. It is an encouraging example of how the EIA process can positively streamline an application to the benefit of consultees and members of the public.

We look forward to seeing the sheds fully operational and supporting Michael with further decarbonisation projects on the site."

Following the planning consent, we expect the first eggs to be on supermarket shelves early in 2023.