PLANS to replace a 50-year-old chicken farm with new sheds have been approved as part of plans to increase UK production post Brexit.

A Durham County Council planning committee heard the plans to upgrade facilities at Hurworth Burn Farm, near Wingate, would help the UK reduce the amount of chicken it imports.

Amber Real Estates Investments, which made the application to replace 12 sheds with four new units, told councillors the investment would help with the “ever increasing demand for fresh chicken.”

The new facility will have capacity for 240,000 birds, an increase from its current capacity of 165,000 birds, which is 38kg per square metre.

The applicants say the unit “may” operate in line with the latest RSPCA freedom foods guidance of 30 kg/m2.

The application was approved. Cllr Mark Wilkes abstained because he said he could not fully support the number of birds being housed at the farm.

Councillors were told capacity of the farm was not a planning consideration.