Glenrath secures planning for UK’s largest free range farm

The Borders Regional Council has granted planning permission to Glenrath Farms to erect nine new poultry houses on its Blythbank Estate near Peebles to house 350,000 free range layers. This will make it the largest free range egg farm in the UK.

The project has met with considerable local opposition since the company decided to apply for planning permission two years ago. Opposition even claimed the development would threaten water supplies to Edinburgh.

John Campbell, the chairman of Glenrath welcomed the decision. He told The Scotsman: “This is excellent news and the £8 million investment will create 60 jobs in the Borders.”

He added: “There is an ever-increasing demand for free-range eggs and we must respond to the market.

Mr Campbell purchased Blythbank Farm in October 2004 from the Roslin Institute. His intention to establish a free range layer unit sparked the creation of The Blyth Bank Action Group (BBAG) in 2005 by the residents of four villages in Peeblesshire to oppose his plan. The group is made up of about 70 people.