“Monstrous” plans for an intensive rabbit meat farm in Coleshill that prompted outrage among more than 85,000 people could still go ahead even though the council refused them – because the site owner has appealed the decision.

After thousands of people, including animal-lover Ricky Gervais spoke out against the plans for a temporary rural worker’s house and agricultural building on land in Magpie Lane, in Coleshill, near Amersham, Buckinghamshire Council rejected the proposals.

The house would allow a worker to be on site to oversee a 250-doe, free-range rabbit production unit, occupying around two acres of the site in the AONB.

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Applicant Phil Kerry, of T&S Nurseries, told BBC Three Counties radio last year there was a “huge demand” for rabbit meat – but Buckinghamshire Council said it had not been demonstrated why the business needed to be located on such a “constrained” site and not somewhere else instead.

Not happy with the decision, agents acting for Mr Kerry have appealed the council’s refusal, meaning the Planning Inspectorate will now investigate the decision, and either uphold it or overturn it.

An inspector is set to visit the site to see it for themselves before a decision is made and anyone with comments to make can do so before February 28.

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Outlining to the Planning Inspectorate why the farm should be allowed, the applicant said: “The land in question is already in agricultural use. The application does not propose a change of use to the land but merely seeks small scale operational development in support of a new enterprise which operates within the confines of the established use of the site.

“Given the agricultural nature of the site the rabbits could be brought on to site without permission, and various small-scale structures, which are not considered to be operational development, could be located within the site.

“However, given the need to live on site bring the rabbits onto the land beforehand would be premature and would result in animal welfare issues.”

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They added: “It is noted that the council question why the development is required in this location and could not be situated elsewhere. Firstly, the land is in the ownership of the appellant and it would be speculative to seek permission on land in someone else’s ownership.

“More importantly however, one of the limitations of rearing free-range rabbits commercially is the risk of bio-security breakdowns. There are several diseases that can destroy a flock over a very short time period and there are also food hygiene rules that need to be complied with.

“One of the exemptions is that small establishments that produce rabbit meat are exempt from various EU/FSA regulations provided that less than 10,000 packs of meat are produced per annum, and that sales are localised i.e. supplying meat within the county of origin and neighbouring counties.

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“The development at this location will enable the company to supply product into the counties of Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Greater London.

“Also, the relatively isolated nature of the site offers benefits with respect to transmission of diseases and security, etc.”

If you wrote a letter of support or objection at the time, the inspector will consider those, but if you didn’t and would still like to have your say, you can go online to acp.planninginspectorate.gov.uk and search for the case using the reference 3285706, by emailing north1@planninginspectorate.gov.uk or in writing to: Claire Vicary, The Planning Inspectorate, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Bristol BS1 6PN.

They have to be received by February 28, 2022.