Plans to build a home for a poultry farm worker near Lydney have been given the go-ahead despite the opposition of council officers.

William and Stephen Aldridge have been granted permission by Forest of Dean District Council to build the new property at Hill Farm in Lensbrook near Purton.

Consultants, working on their behalf, said there is a need for an agricultural worker’s home at the farm which has an anaerobic digester onsite. The poultry units there rear 1.4 million broiler chickens per year.

The consultants said there is a need for the new home so that William, who is responsible for the welfare of the birds, can respond should any of the automated feed, water, heating, ventilation or lighting systems fail at any time of the day or night.

The proposals were referred to the planning committee by ward Councillor James Bevan (Independent Alliance, Lydney East).

Officers had recommended turning down the proposals as they were not satisfied that there is an essential need for a worker’s home at the farm.

They also said it was excessive in size, scale and design and not what you would expect for an agricultural worker’s home.

Officers also had concerns over the impact it would have on bats and great crested newts. They said the home would be unnecessary development in the open countryside harming the rural character and appearance of the area.

William Aldridge, who spoke at the planning committee meeting on December 13, said councillors had previously agreed there was an essential need for an agricultural worker’s dwelling at Hill Farm. He said he necessary ecology and landscape works plan have now been completed

“A new house is needed on site. The scale of the proposed dwelling is acceptable,” he said.

“It was very important for us as a family to get it right and we are grateful to you for giving us the necessary time to resolve the ecology matters with our team and with the council.”

He said his father, who lives at the farm, can no longer get up in the middle of the night to deal with any problems at the chicken sheds. Mr Aldrige explained that over the last 12 months he has had to respond to 220 alarm calls out of normal hours.

Cllr Bevan said the Aldridge family were by far the largest food producers in the south of the Forest and called on the committee to approve the scheme.

He said he could not see how the planning officers had the “divine right” to dictate how large or small a working farmhouse should be.

Cllr Brian Lewis (Con, Hartpury and Redmarley) proposed approving the plans on the basis that the need and size of the home was required and this was seconded by Cllr Bran Robinson (Independent Group Two, Longhope and Huntley).

The committee voted to approve the proposals by eight votes in favour and two against.