PLANS for a 16,000 hen chicken house have been scuppered as town planners are set to refuse to grant permission.

The application to build the large farm building at Marton, which would house thousands of birds for free-range egg production, was recommended for refusal by Barrow Borough Council.

The reason for the recommendation was that the development would cause 'significant harm to an area of the countryside'.

The chicken house, which would be situated on a site at Maidenlands Tarn Ltd, on Tarn Flatt, Marton, has provoked a strong response in opposition from residents of the area.

Objecting to the application, one person, who lives on nearby Silver Street, said: "We strongly object to the plans. This significant development is too close to the village.

"Looking at the plan, why on earth is the proposal to grow even closer to the village? Why not close to the existing buildings?

"This is all greenfield development on what, until recently, was truly greenfield and rural. It is now being ruined by on-going expansion in a village setting."

As well as the building to house the birds, the proposal includes space for feeding bins, hard-standing and an access track.

As the birds would be free-range, it also includes 20 acres of land on which the chickens could roam and graze.

In giving their reasons for recommending refusal planning officers told the borough council: "The development would result in the erection of a building of industrial proportions and appearance in a rural location remote from other farm buildings.

"The building and its associated infrastructure, including groundworks, would result in significant harm to an area of countryside designated as a County Landscape."

This is the second time a planning application has been rejected for a development on the site.

In 2010, an application was refused at committee, however it was then withdrawn by the applicant.