South West Norfolk MP Terry Jermy reiterates objection to megafarm planned for Methwold

An MP has reiterated his stance of objecting to a megafarm being built in Methwold.

In a Parliamentary debate on the future of farming, South West Norfolk MP Terry Jermy spoke about the proposed building of the megafarm.

West Norfolk Council has proposed to meet in early April to make a final decision on the planning proposal.

Mr Jermy praised the Cranswick Objection Group, which is a community formed to protest the application.

He said: “We have a further proposed megafarm to be built in my constituency at Methwold – if approved on the 3rd April, it would become one of the largest in Europe.

“That application has received over 15,000 objections including from all local parish councils nearby, local councillors, as well as various campaign groups including WWF and Compassion in World Farming. The council will make a decision early on next month and as I have said, no ifs, no buts, this construction cannot be allowed to go ahead. This is not farming, this is industrialisation.”

A Freedom of Information request showed intensive livestock farms across the region had broken environmental regulations at least 776 times. On average the breaches occurred at least twice a week between 2017 and 2024.

The plan to house 14,000 pigs and 870,000 hens at linked locations in Methwold and Feltwell has sparked uproar in the nearby rural villages with concerns over multiple issues from animal welfare to air and water pollution.

Formal objections have been made by both Feltwell and Methold parish councils and a whole range of other organisations as well as local residents.

Mr Jermy previously wrote to the Environmental Agency last year to also highlight the issues saying that it would be "unnecessary”, with damaging pollution which will adversely affect people and biodiversity".