Avian Influenza Helps Fast Track Planning Permission
In November 2005, Andrew Watts – Production Director at Fridays received a circular letter from the local planning office explaining that they had been asked by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to contact all poultry farmers in the borough offering to assist with obtaining planning permission "to erect structures necessary to isolate farm birds from wild birds".
Andrew immediately recognised that this was obviously a very valuable letter which could be put to good use at Fridays flagship free range site Combwell Farm in Kent, having 92000 hens housed in twelve houses on a 240 acre site.
Eight of the houses having been built over ten years ago did not have proper verandas and it would have been difficult to house the hens for a long period of time in the event of an AI housing order. Consequently when AI was declared in France during the weekend of 18th / 19th February 2006 it was considered time to act.
A letter was sent to the planning office on Monday 20th February 2006 explaining about the French confirmation of AI and the need for 12 foot verandas to be built either side of the existing houses to keep hens away from wild birds (particularly ducks and geese as the farm is close to a large reservoir ). Within three days a very helpful letter from the Planning Office was received saying that "given the seriousness of the threat of avian influenza – the council would not want any essential emergency precautions to be delayed by the planning process" and suggested that we started our verandas and applied for retrospective permission as it was unlikely that the council would raise a planning objection to the proposals.
Fridays' architect visited Combwell Farm the next week, drew up the plans and submitted an official planning application with the relevant fee of £4505 on 9th March. Official Planning Permission was granted on 17th March just 20 working days from Andrews first letter; such speedy permissions almost unheard of for major work.
During the remainder of 2006 and into 2007 the £315,000 veranda project swung into action with Fridays' local builder doing the ground works and concrete base followed closely by Potters Poultry Building Division managed by Justin Potter providing and erecting the veranda wall and roof panels. This major project went well and was managed on a day to day basis by Combwell's enthusiastic Farm Manager - Graham Fuller (see pictured) supported by Farms Manager – Philip Dury.
