Possible poultry training base near York
A farm on the edge of York has been recommended to become a training base for those in the poultry industry by City of York Council’s economic development team.
The council-owned site is to be sold, and of the four top bids received, the team preferred the poultry training centre proposal.
The farm is three miles south of York city centre, comprises of outbuildings in need of refurbishment and eight acres of agricultural land.
According to the report, the as yet unnamed bidder plans to launch a diploma and masters degree in poultry production this year in conjunction with the University of Nottingham.
The proposed site would be used as the “clinical poultry department” of the bidder, and would provide further training for veterinary related poultry qualifications as well as poultry related qualifications for students from the industry.
The bidder said that the facility could create up to 23 jobs by 2019, and according to a council evaluation could pull £14.8m in to York’s economy.
“Agri-food has been identified as a nationally and potentially internationally leading strength of the York and North Yorkshire sub region,” said the report, compiled by York council property surveyor Lynne Hanser. “The proposed development could contribute to the critical mass in this industry.”
It concluded that, while the bid was the lowest of the four evaluated, it was chosen for its potential “significant economic benefit for the city through the creation of jobs and training”.
The report will be submitted for approval to the council’s cabinet on 12 February.
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