MORE THAN £100m could be invested in Scottish poultry production if planning is approved for a new residential development.
Amber REI (Agriculture) Ltd, a business controlled by Boparan Holdings owner Ranjit Singh, wants to redevelop one of its sites into a residential mixed-use development.
See also: Chicken production set to decline across Europe this year
The current Clapperton poultry farm complex, east of Livingston, in West Lothian, comprises aged poultry sheds and surplus land, according to the company.
It is proposing to redevelop the site into a new garden city with up to 2,000 homes.
And, if approved, the firm says it would reinvest up to £100m into the Scottish food and agriculture sector through the company’s poultry supply chain operations across the country.
Sustainable farming
That would include redeveloping an existing feed mill close to Edinburgh, building another in the Firth of Forth, and new “sustainable farming space” across West Lothian.
A spokesperson from Amber REI (Agriculture) said: “We are delighted these exciting proposals are being bought forward and that they will deliver significant investment not only in West Lothian but across Scotland as a whole.
“As an exemplar low carbon community, Drumshoreland will not only deliver much-needed housing, including affordable housing, but employment, education and community facilities.
Poultry supply chain
“It will also deliver significant post-covid investment into the poultry processing supply chain across Scotland, creating jobs, both directly and indirectly, as well as delivering a low carbon future for the agriculture sector.
“This new sustainable neighbourhood will not only help to meet the housing needs of both this and future generations; it will also deliver a clear investment legacy across Scotland.”
Two Proposal of Application Notices (PAN) for planning permission in principle (PPiP) have been submitted to West Lothian Council.
These PANs formally note that planning applications will be submitted in due course to establish the principle of development on the site.
A PPiP application will now be submitted covering the wider site and the other PPiP will cover an area of land located within the wider site.
Planning
A West Lothian Council spokesperson added: “The council has been notified about the proposed development but has not yet received a planning application. Any application we receive will be assessed in accordance with our normal planning procedures.
“The site is not allocated for residential development in the local development plan.”