'Megafarm' plans rejected by council

The council's decision was met by claps and cheers from protesters

A planning application that would have seen more than 714,000 chickens and 14,000 pigs housed at a so-called megafarm has been refused.

Food producer Cranswick had lodged a proposal to expand its current site in Methwold, Norfolk and wanted to pull down existing poultry sheds and replace them with new ones, plus accommodation for people working at the site.

The King's Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council meeting was attended by councillors and members of the public from groups on both sides, and the decision was met by claps and cheers.

"This is a bad day for the sustainable production of British meat," a Cranswick spokesperson said.

"We are incredibly disappointed by today's decision. We'll now take time to review the decision and consider the options available to us."

The company previously asked for the planning application to be "judged in line with the way that other farms have been assessed nearby".

In a briefing document, it said it wanted to modernise for a growing market, creating more British food to higher welfare standards through the redevelopment of existing farms.

Cranswick had planned to pull down the existing sheds and replace them with new ones and on site accommodation for workers

The council had previously been recommended to turn the application down due to its impact on ecology and climate change.

Officials had also raised concerns about the proposed farm's proximity to "a number of European protected sites".

However, the council said it would "consider the applications professionally and objectively".

Pallavi Devulapalli, an independent councillor, said during a debate on the scheme that the site was "two times larger than the largest poultry farm in the area".

"We really can't afford any more loss to our biodiversity," she added.

"We can't carry on trashing the air, our water supplies and soil and leave nothing for our future generations."

Council officials discussed two planning applications for the pig and poultry sides of the proposed scheme

Terry Jermy, Labour MP for South West Norfolk, who won the seat from former prime minister Liz Truss last year, said constituents were "rightly concerned" about the scheme.

About 25 protesters opposing the development gathered outside King's Lynn Town Hall.

Local resident Ann Cuthbert said she was relieved and "really joyful" following the ruling.

"Because it's such an awful thing to have to live with - to realise once it's there, there's nothing you can do about it," she said.

"Let it go to appeal. The evidence is there and the evidence is growing."

Local resident Ann Cuthbert says those living close to the proposed site have suffered years of uncertainity

Jake White, head of legal advocacy at the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF), said it was "delighted" with the outcome.

"This is a well-deserved win, not just for the environment but for the local community who united to oppose this unpopular, unlawful and unsustainable megafarm," he said.

"We are delighted that the people of Methwold have got the result they wanted following the council's robust consultation process."