West Norfolk Council’s planners recommend that Cranswick’s plans for megafarm in Methwold and Feltwell be refused

Proposals to build what would be one of the biggest livestock farms in the country have been recommended for refusal by West Norfolk planners.

Reports published ahead of West Norfolk Council’s special planning committee meeting suggest that food giant Cranswick’s bid to create a megafarm across sites in Methwold and Feltwell could be turned down, based on officials’ advice.

The two linked applications are recommended for refusal as the sites - which would produce millions of chickens and thousands of pigs a year - lie within “close proximity to a number of European protected sites” and due to the “significant effects of the project on the environment”.

“The information submitted by the applicant fails to demonstrate that the development proposed would not result in significant adverse effects on the protected sites,” planning officials have said.

“The council is required to consider the significant effects of the project on the environment, including the impact of the development on climate change.”

“Insufficient environmental information has been submitted to enable the council to reach a view”, the reports add, stating that the applications are contrary to Local Plan policies and the National Planning Policy Framework.

The special planning committee meeting is scheduled to be held at Lynn’s Town Hall on Thursday, April 3 at 9.30am.

Cranswick’s megafarm plans, which it says would create a modern and sustainable farm, have led to huge concern among villagers who worry about the potential environmental harm and increased traffic it could create.

The application has generated more than 15,000 objections and animal rights groups and environmental campaigners, including the World Wide Fund for Nature, have opposed the scheme.

Reports to the special committee meeting state that the response to a public consultation on the development resulted in objections from parish councils, Norfolk Local Access Forum, Norfolk Wildlife Trust and West Norfolk Council’s ecologist.

No objections were made by the local highway authority (Norfolk County Council), the Minerals and Waste Authority at Norfolk County Council or the Ministry of Defence. Anglian Water, Active Travel and the Internal Drainage Board offered no comments.

Natural England stated that further information was required, while the Environment Agency, West Norfolk Council’s arboricultural officer, Environmental Health and Housing, Community Safety and Neighbour Nuisance, and the Historic Environment Service submitted no objection subject to conditions.

A Cranswick spokesman said: “The UK needs to produce more food, to a higher welfare standard, and reduce reliance on imported products. To support this, more investment in farms across the country will be required.

“A farm has been operating on this site since the 1960s. Our plans involve modernising the site, ensuring high standards of animal welfare, including lower stocking density for chickens and more space to roam.

“Crucially, by redeveloping this farm, we will provide a strong supply of sustainable, affordable, high quality, British pork and chicken. This will reduce the need for more foreign food imports and reduce emissions from the production and transportation of foreign pork and chicken into the UK.”

A decision on the project - for 14 ‘modern rearing pig units to house 14,000 pigs at Feltwell and 20 poultry units with the capacity to house around 714,000 chickens in total - has faced several delays and it has taken nearly three years for the proposal to be ready to come before councillors.