ENVIRONMENTAL campaigners scored a major victory today after overturning the approval of a mammoth industrial chicken farm near Shrewsbury.

The case, brought by charity River Action and campaigner Dr Alison Caffyn, quashes Shropshire Council’s decision to permit the building of a 200,000-bird poultry unit in the River Severn catchment. 

The proposed site was near another facility which already houses half-a-million chickens.

Campaigners argued that the council failed to assess the environmental impact of the development, including the spreading of poultry manure.

They say that the manure results in air and water pollution due to ammonia emissions and the deposition of nitrogen and phosphorus.

Dr Caffyn said: “There are nearly 65 chickens for every person in Shropshire and yet the council still thought we needed more. 

“This ruling proves what we’ve said all along: the planning system has been putting our rivers at risk.”

Emma Dearnaley, River Action’s head of legal, said the ruling was a “wake-up call."

She said: “For too long, councils like Shropshire have been rubber-stamping intensive livestock farms without fully considering the damage they do to the surrounding environment. 

“There are already far too many chickens in areas like the Severn and our rivers are choking on chicken muck. Today, the court drew a line: no more mega-farms without looking at the bigger picture.

“This landmark judgment means councils across the country must take the health of the wider area into account and look at the wider consequences when it comes to agricultural waste.”

A Shropshire Council spokesperson said: “We acknowledge today’s judgement and will now take some time to study it and consider its implications.”