Broiler Breeder Units, Devon
In 2021, aged 26, Ed Smaldon returned from JP Morgan after a year-long sabbatical to join the diversified family farming business in north Devon. Within the first month, he met with Adam Langley of Powell & Co Construction to discuss his goal of modernising the home farm broiler breeder unit, which supplies Avara Foods, while creating an opportunity for business growth through further diversification. Before long, it became clear Ed would not return to Canary Wharf, as momentum in several different projects gathered.
The aim was to build the most modern poultry building for 11,000 hens, while removing the two oldest breeder sheds (built in 1993 and 1996) from production and converting them into industrial spaces. The new shed was designed with future diversification in mind, featuring sufficient eaves height to accommodate a curtain lorry, which could park inside and be offloaded should poultry production ever become unviable at the site.
After collaborating closely with Ed on several concepts and iterations, Powell & Co Construction embarked on the new 116x16x4.5m poultry building project, simultaneously working on a new amenity egg packing room with shower facilities, as well as new ancillary buildings for water and power. It also supplied many of the bespoke materials for the refurbishment of other buildings.
