Herefordshire Farmer Denied Permit for Poultry Operation Near River Teme

On November 11th, 2025, a Herefordshire game bird keeper's appeal to establish a poultry operation at a rural site near the River Teme was rejected by a government planning inspector. Gareth Morgan had applied for permission to build sheds and enclosures for pheasants, partridges, quails, and geese at Nacklestone Farm, near Leintwardine.

However, Herefordshire Council had refused the original application last December due to concerns over the project's visual and environmental impact, as well as a lack of detail on vehicle movements and road safety. Mr. Morgan appealed the decision, but the planning inspector ultimately upheld the refusal, ruling that the use of the land had already begun and had caused harm to the surrounding landscape.

The inspector's report noted that "several" timber bird houses and pens were already in use at the Blackbridge Game site, making the appeal effectively retrospective. These existing structures were found to have "resulted in harm to the character and appearance of the area." Environmental concerns were also raised, with uncertainty over whether the waste "would not result in likely adverse effects" on the River Teme's Special Area of Conservation through increased phosphate pollution.

As a result of the planning inspector's decision, the structures already on the site are now expected to be subject to enforcement action by the local authorities.