EUROPE'S largest egg producing company is appealing to the Scottish Government to be allowed to erect a new poultry shed in the Stobo Valley.

Glenrath Farms wants to build a secondary hen house - measuring 140 metres in length and six metres in height - at Easter Happrew Farm.

Glenrath was granted permission for a 160-metre long poultry shed on a neighbouring site on appeal back in 2009.

Dozens of locals had campaigned against the original shed which was initially refused permission by members of the then Tweeddale Area Committee.

It is estimated the proposed new building would house a further two separate flocks of 16,000 free range hens at the farm.

The planning application, which attracted 26 letters of objection, was turned down at the start of this month by Scottish Borders Council's building control committee.

Concerns ranged from the shed having an adverse impact on the area and additional traffic, to contravening the Local Plan and threatening the area's biodiversity.

Members of Manor, Stobo and Lyne Community Council also expressed their objections on grounds of having a detrimental impact on the nearby John Buchan Way, cumulative impact on the landscape, and that the plans have no economic or employment justification.

Now Sir John Campbell, the founder and chairman of Glenrath Farms, has lodged an appeal with the government's Planning and Environmental Appeals Division.

A reporter will consider the appeal over the coming months.