A CONTROVERSIAL scheme for a large scale poultry rearing unit near Tenbury has been put back.

The proposed poultry rearing unit in Bockleton was due to be considered at the February meeting of Malvern Hills District Council planners but was deferred to allow more time to consider environmental issues.

It is expected that the scheme that has attracted opposition will now be considered either at the March or at the April meeting.

The scheme is at Sailings Farm and would involve the construction of four buildings that would each house 47,000 birds for rearing from birth until they are ready for the table.

One-day-old chicks would arrive at the facility and stay for 35 days which is the normal rearing cycle for standard size birds.

At the end of the rearing period the chickens would be taken away by lorry to slaughter and following cleaning a new flock would be installed.

It is envisaged that there would be eight flocks of chickens produced from the unit each year.