Cranswick has mounted a robust defence of its proposal for a large pig and poultry unit in Norfolk, after West Norfolk Borough Council rejected it following a three-year process.
Its application to expand an existing site to house 714,000 chickens and 14,000 pigs near the villages of Methwold and Feltwell was considered in a crunch meeting on 3 April.
The decision had been expected following the publication in March of a 200 page report in which planning officers recommended the application be refused for two reasons.
With the site lying close to a number of European protected sites, planning officers said Cranswick had failed to demonstrate that the development ‘would not result in significant adverse effects on the protected sites’.
They also concluded that insufficient environmental information had been submitted to enable the council to reach a view on the impact of the project on the environment and climate change.
Just before the decision Cranswick reiterated its arguments that the development would ensure better use of local land, improve the existing site, and deliver higher welfare for pigs and poultry. The number of chickens housed in a unit would have been reduced by 20% compared to the Red Tractor standard and 100% of chickens would be hatched in the barn, rather than at a hatchery facility, under the NestBorn system.
The planning officer report revealed the plans received 12,604 objections, a 42,133-signature petition and seven representations in support. Objectors included five parish councils, a local campaign group, two local MPs and several NGOs.
Cranswick said it ‘fully recognised that a range of concerns and views have been expressed by local stakeholders and residents’, and had worked hard to address the issues.
But it criticised the approach of the council, noting that it was ‘extremely disappointed’ to find that the council’s report was ‘littered with basic factual errors’.
Cranswick said it had fully responded to all requests from the council to provide more information. However, it said that in the run-up to the hearing, the council said it needed further information, but was not clear what that information was and had not given it time to provide it.
Following the decision, Terry Jermy MP, Member for South West Norfolk, called it a “victory for local people and the environment.”
Jermy said, “I said from the beginning, no ifs, no buts, the megafarm should not go ahead and I am delighted that the application has been rejected.
“With over 15,000 objections and numerous of legal concerns raised based on environmental breaches this is an important victory.”
Formal objections to the application had been made by both Feltwell and Methwold Parish Councils and a whole range of other organisations as well as local residents.
Cranswick said it was “incredibly disappointed” and called it a “bad day for the sustainable production of British meat.” It said it would review the decision and consider its next options.