Fears a free range egg production project at Abernethy will create an unacceptable level of odour and noise have been raised with council planners.
They were among the grounds of objection submitted about the plan at Wilson Cordon Farm.
As well as letters of objection, a 2,317-signature petition objecting to the application was sent to the council.
“Full planning consent is sought for the erection of an agricultural building which will house a free range egg laying unit which is proposed to accommodate 32,000 free range laying hens,” said Ann Condliffe, interim development quality manager, in a report to be considered by councillors on Wednesday.
“The site is located within a field within an existing farm called Cordon Farm which is located to the north of Abernethy. The existing farm extends to 750 acres of arable farm land which produces cereals and potatoes.”
In keeping with the free range ethos there would be an external pasture area which would allow access for the hens between 8am and 9pm.
The report, which will go to the planning and development management committee, said as well as odour and noise, other areas of concern to local people were traffic generation, pollution and the visual impact of the proposal.
The report noted “an application of this scale has the potential to lead to loss of amenity due to noise and odour” and said that the closest residential property not in the applicant’s ownership was 375 metres away.
Overall the proposal would generate three HGV visits (six movements) and 14 cars/vans (28 movements) per week.
Council officials believe that the plan is acceptable and are recommending approval.
They do note that the Carey temporary Roman camp, which is thought to date from the late 1st century AD, is near to the application site and on that basis Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust has recommended that an archaeological investigation be undertaken to assess the site.
