A plan to build a new workers' dwelling at a Coleorton farming company was given the go-ahead after a councillors heard of a number of break-ins at the property.

Last Tuesday's meeting of North West Leicestershire District Council's planning committee was told that one incident led to the death of 4,000 chicks overnight.

The application was made for an existing farming business, C.A. Jessop and Sons at The Moorlands in Coleorton.

It also included a new agricultural building for the storage of farm equipment on the site.

Councillors were told that the property was owned by the applicant's parents who previously ran a game rearing and farming business at the site before retiring and succeeding the business to the applicants.

The applicant's parents retired to their family home of some 30 years.

But the meeting heard the applicant's parents have no personal or financial interest in C.A. Jessops and carry out no work for the current business.

The agent for the applicant, David Harris-Watkins, told councillors that the company was 'substantial, rearing 100,000 young pheasants per year, 400 turkeys, 400 cockerels and 4,000 breeding pheasants, as well as 90 cattle.

He added: "The applicants need to live on site to provide care for their livestock.

"They have also suffered a number of break-ins and thefts, on one occasion, thieves stole a number of gas canisters which heat the pheasant chicks huts.

"This led to the death of 4,000 chicks overnight.

"That also emphasises the need for an overnight security presence.

"There is an essential need for the dwelling."

Coleorton Parish Council had already raised objections on the following grounds:

• The site is outside the limits to development

• Highways make mention of the fact that The Moorlands has a 30-mph speed limit, but this is not adhered to, and an independent speed survey should be requested

• In the Design and Access statement, the agent refers to the Local Plan which has expired

• It is not clear from the statement who is going to occupy this property. The agent's statement continually refers to a rural worker - is this one worker in addition to the applicants?

• The agent's statement which demonstrates need is not visible

• The new property should be a tied agricultural dwelling and rigorously enforced in the future if permitted.

Councillors in Coalville also expressed concerns about building outside the limits to development, but the plans were given the green light.