Deepdale residents odour battle against Gafoor chicken factory will go to High Court

The Gafoor factory in Fletcher Road, Deepdale Pic: Blog Preston

A date has been set for when a battle by residents against a nearby chicken factory will go to court.

More than 70 nearby residents are taking their case to the High Court over the smell they say is ‘disgusting’, causing health issues and coming from the Gafoor Pure Halal Ltd site in Fletcher Road.

In January a costs and case management hearing saw the court progress the matter to trial.

The Manchester District Registry of the High Court will hear the Gafoor case in April 2027.

Legal director for Hugh James Solicitors, Kimberley Sutton, who will represent the Deepdale residents in their claim, told Blog Preston: “Residents continue to suffer an ongoing odour nuisance from the Site. They simply wish to enjoy their properties free from odour and seek an end to the excessive odour levels they continue to endure.”

In November last year Blog Preston revealed how the factory had been operating outside of its permitted hours as specified under planning rules – with late night and early morning deliveries taking place.

A planning application was then lodged late last year as the chicken factory attempted to remove all operating restrictions which date back to when it was built in the early 2000s.

In their application Gafoor claimed because they had breached the current operating hours so regularly they were null and void. No decision has been taken on the new planning application to remove the operating hour conditions for the Fletcher Road site.

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