Plans to build a new 80m-long building at Holywell Farm, off Chelveston Road, Stanwick, where there are already houses for 28,000 birds, have been approved by East Northamptonshire Council.

The applicant's agent, Noble Foods – which is the UK's leading egg marketing company and supplies eggs to major retailers including Tesco, Sainsbury's and M&S, and restaurants such as McDonald's – said the new house was needed to help meet the demand for free range eggs across the country.

East Northamptonshire Council planning committee member Glenn Harwood gave the application his backing. He said: "I know this area very well and I can't see any reason why we shouldn't approve this.

"I note there have been two objections concerning noise and smell but there have been no complaints over the past couple of years about other poultry houses on the site."