WWF charity objects to pig farm's planning changes

Food producer Cranswick runs a pig farm at Stow Bedon in Norfolk

An environmental charity has objected to a pig farm operator's retrospective planning application.

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) criticised food producer Cranswick's revised application for the Cherry Tree Farm site in Stow Bedon, Norfolk.

Villagers have made hundreds of complaints about the stench of ammonia after the site expanded to house 7,000 pigs in 2021.

A Cranswick spokesperson said the changes to the original planning application - which was approved - had been recommended by the Environment Agency.

"This site represents farming against nature," said Jake White, WWF's head of legal advocacy, claiming the building of sheds not in the original application had "harmful environmental effects".

"The WWF has deep concerns about the way in which the developer has assessed the significance of the emissions and the way in which nature impacts are addressed in the environmental impact assessment."

He claimed the emissions were "damaging local highly protected sites for nature".

In a statement, the Cranswick spokesperson added: "We have worked tirelessly to address the concerns raised through the Environment Agency and this has led to changes in the structure to meet the parameters of the permit.

"The council have had this revised planning application for over three years and even now, have requested further information.

"The changes made to the original approved application were on the basis of recommendations from the Environment Agency and utilise industry leading techniques for a farm of this type.

"We are working with the Breckland Council to address these queries but are incredibly disappointed with the length of time it has taken the council to respond to the application."

Breckland Council said the application had been due to go to its planning committee in May, but had been postponed so officers could look at the "large volume of representations received".

In April, a Cranswick planning application that would have seen more than 714,000 chickens and 14,000 pigs housed at a so-called megafarm in Methwold, Norfolk, was refused.