£8m plans submitted for egg farm

If approved the egg farm would be the largest in the UK

Plans have been lodged to build the UK's largest egg farm near West Linton.

Glenrath Farms has submitted an application for the £8m expansion with Scottish Borders Council.

The Lamancha-based company gained permission from the Scottish Executive earlier this year to build a single giant shed housing 32,000 birds.

The new plans would create 60 new jobs in the Blythbank valley. Protesters have said they still have environmental concerns about the scheme.

If successful the development would house about 300,000 birds in total.

Wildlife concerns

The company has said it now has the backing of an independent environmental impact study.

However, campaigners against the plan have raised concerns about the impact on wildlife and river tributaries in the area.

Earlier this year the Scottish Executive rejected council calls for an Environmental Impact Assessment when it approved one of the sheds.

It ruled the first structure would not have a significant impact on the area.