Poultry News
  • Production
    • Broiler Production
    • Ducks
    • Egg Production
    • Game
    • Hatching
    • Housing
    • Turkeys
  • Processing
  • Business & Politics
    • Business
    • Economics
    • EU & Politics
    • Marketing
    • People
    • Training & Education
  • Welfare
    • Environment
    • Food Safety
    • Vet & Medication
    • Welfare
  • Feed
  • Genetics
  • New Products
  • Magazines
    • July 2025
    • 2025 National Egg and Poultry Awards finalists supplement
    • June 2025
    • 2025 Innovation supplement
    • May 2025
    • April 2025
    • March 2025
    • 2025 Feed and Nutrition supplement
    • February 2025
    • January 2025
    • December 2024
    • November 2024
    • October 2024
    • September 2024
    • 2024 Building for the Future supplement
    • August 2024
    • 2024 Poultry Health supplement
    • July 2024
    • 2024 National Egg and Poultry Awards finalists supplement
    • June 2024
    • 2024 Innovation supplement
    • Pig & Poultry Fair 2024
    • May 2024
    • April 2024
    • March 2024
    • February 2024
    • January 2024
    • December 2023
    • November 2023
    • Processing Equipment Supplement – Nov 2023
    • October 2023
    • Building Supplement – Sept 2023
    • September 2023
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Events
    • National Egg and Poultry Awards
    • Poultry Fair
    • Webinars
Twitter LinkedIn
  • FREE Email Newsletters
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us
Twitter LinkedIn
Podcast
Poultry News
  • Production
    • Broiler Production
    • Ducks
    • Egg Production
    • Game
    • Hatching
    • Housing
    • Turkeys
  • Processing
  • Business & Politics
    • Business
    • Economics
    • EU & Politics
    • Marketing
    • People
    • Training & Education
  • Welfare
    • Environment
    • Food Safety
    • Vet & Medication
    • Welfare
  • Feed
  • Genetics
  • New Products
  • Magazines
    1. July 2025
    2. 2025 National Egg and Poultry Awards finalists supplement
    3. June 2025
    4. 2025 Innovation supplement
    5. May 2025
    6. April 2025
    7. March 2025
    8. 2025 Feed and Nutrition supplement
    9. February 2025
    10. January 2025
    11. December 2024
    12. November 2024
    13. October 2024
    14. September 2024
    15. 2024 Building for the Future supplement
    16. August 2024
    17. 2024 Poultry Health supplement
    18. July 2024
    19. 2024 National Egg and Poultry Awards finalists supplement
    20. June 2024
    21. 2024 Innovation supplement
    22. Pig & Poultry Fair 2024
    23. May 2024
    24. April 2024
    25. March 2024
    26. February 2024
    27. January 2024
    28. December 2023
    29. November 2023
    30. Processing Equipment Supplement – Nov 2023
    31. October 2023
    32. Building Supplement – Sept 2023
    33. September 2023
    Featured

    Poultry Business – July 2025 issue

    By Chloe RyanJuly 1, 2025
    Recent

    Poultry Business – July 2025 issue

    July 1, 2025

    Poultry Business – 2025 National Egg and Poultry Awards finalists supplement

    July 1, 2025

    Poultry Business – June 2025 issue

    June 9, 2025
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Events
    • National Egg and Poultry Awards
    • Poultry Fair
    • Webinars
Twitter LinkedIn
Poultry News
Housing

Inside Beech Farm, Barkston, a poultry farm with an eye on the future

Chloe RyanBy Chloe RyanSeptember 18, 20243 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email

This article first appeared in the Buildings supplement to Poultry Business, published in September 2024

Clarke Group was invited to provide a full turnkey package for a six-house broiler project in Lincolnshire. With an already established relationship with the client, Clarke Group was thrilled to submit a proposal for this farm.

Working to the boundary plan provided by the client, Clarke Group’s design team and project managers produced a site with six 350 ft x 80 ft houses. Due to the plot’s tight rectangular shape, it was determined that the house layout would be best situated end to end, to maximise the floor area. This led to a central corridor design, linking all the control rooms and a one-way traffic system around the site.

Biosecurity is paramount in poultry house design. Located within the specifically designed 20ft wide central corridor is the farm manager’s office and welfare facilities. Upon entry, all farm operatives will shower and change into designated clothing before they’re able to enter the bio-secure area.

Once in, there is no requirement for any operator to leave this area during working hours as they have access to all six poultry houses. Viewing windows have been installed in each house allowing visual inspection from the corridor.

Entry to the houses is protected by a dwarf wall and operatives must change their footwear before entering the bird area. This build design hugely reduces the risk of AI and other pathogens entering this area.

A meeting room has been included within the corridor, also with viewing windows, allowing the bird growers to host guests from all over the world to showcase the farm’s sustainability credentials and their mantra “reduce, reuse, renewable”.

Clarke Group worked closely with both the client and integrator from the outset, allowing the scheme objective to be set early, with the focus on increased levels of sustainability and renewable energy. The industry faces pressure to reduce its carbon footprint, and whilst also trying to manage the increases in gas and electricity costs, it was crucial for Clarke Group to source the best resources for the project, allowing the integrator a blueprint site for the future of poultry farming.

Market research was carried out into both existing renewable options as well as new products now available, and Clarke Group was able to engage with many experts within the field. Upon shortlisting, the companies were able to meet with all parties to put forward their products and how they would benefit the site.

Upon review of all proposals, it was agreed the best options for this farm were:

1mW of solar – 904kW of battery storage

Rainwater harvesting – capturing storm water from the house roofs to use as drinking water for the birds and the misting system

Heat exchangers – making use of preheated air

Ground source heat (using boreholes) – for the underfloor and overhead heating

The industry is working hard to manage the impact of reduced stocking density and this has created a demand for more bird space. However, securing planning approval is now more difficult for new sites than in previous years.

Since completion, this farm has produced 11 crops, and the integrator is seeing fantastic results. With this flagship farm showing the proof truly is in the pudding, Clarke Group hopes this can play a part in planning departments and farmers working proactively together to obtain approvals for new poultry house sites, a vital requirement for the future of food supply in the UK.

Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email
Previous ArticleGressingham Duck launches new ‘easy to cook’ dish
Next Article Preparing your ventilation for peak performance in winter
Chloe Ryan

Editor of Poultry Business, Chloe has spent the past decade writing about the food industry from farming, through manufacturing, retail and foodservice. When not working, dog walking and reading biographies are her favourite hobbies.

Read Similar Stories

Production

Comment: We need to attract young people to the poultry industry

July 8, 20252 Mins Read
Production

New RSPCA chicken welfare standards now available for RSPCA Assured members

July 7, 20252 Mins Read
Production

The Chicken and the Shed: A Tale of Two Growth Curves

July 7, 20252 Mins Read
Latest News

EFSA warns of bird migration and US imports pathways for AI into Europe

July 11, 2025

Comment: New catching rules are a disaster

July 10, 2025

Comment: Skills for what?

July 10, 2025
Sponsored Content

Navigating Sustainability in Egg Production: Practical Steps for Producers

June 1, 2025

Maintain stable and continuous coccidiosis control amidst stocking density reductions

November 1, 2024
© 2024 MA Agriculture Ltd, a Mark Allen Group company

Privacy Policy | Cookies Policy | Terms & Conditions

  • Farmers Weekly
  • AA Farmer
  • Farm Contractor
  • Pig World

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.