Press release – Council must reject megafarm on climate grounds say campaigners on final day of public consultation generating thousands of objections

Environmental campaigners are urging King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council to reject controversial plans for a US-style ‘megafarm,’ saying a lack of greenhouse gas emissions information in the application is not legally compliant.

The proposed development – which would produce over six million chickens and 56,000 pigs a year – could increase borough-wide emissions by a huge 6%. This would jeopardise both local and national climate targets.

In a joint submission to the planning application made today (24 January, 2025), environmental campaign group Foodrise and Sustain, the alliance for better food and farming, detail serious flaws in the application. This comes on the final day of the consultation, which has generated thousands of objections on a range of grounds including waste, odour, traffic, water and air quality, and climate harm.

The campaign groups’ objections include the absence of an assessment in the application of the direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions the site would generate, as is required by law in planning decisions for major developments following a Supreme Court ruling last year.

The development could increase emissions by more than 120,000 tonnes of CO₂-equivalent annually, contrary to the Council’s climate strategy and the UK’s legally-binding commitment to achieve net zero by 2050.

The groups’ objections relate to the following seven areas:

1. The application is unlawful, therefore should be rejected
2. The application will cause significant climate impacts
3. The application will cause wider environmental impacts
4. The application risks the delivery of legally binding climate and nature emergency targets, plans and policies
5. The application threatens the delivery of local and national planning policy
6. There are no options for mitigating the significant climate impacts of the projects
7. Negative economic impacts of intensive livestock farming

The application for the Methwold megafarm has drawn widespread opposition as demonstrated by the thousands of objections submitted during the consultation period. Cranswick Plc, the applicant and one of the UK’s largest livestock producers, has faced complaints and enforcement actions over ammonia emissions and river pollution in the past.^[1]

Feedback and Sustain have received legal advice on Cranswick’s planning application indicating that the direct and indirect climate impacts of industrial livestock units must be considered by councils when deciding on factory farm planning applications.

Council’s climate commitments at risk

King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council declared a climate emergency in 2021 and adopted a strategy aimed at reducing emissions across transport, industry and housing. Approving the Methwold megafarm would directly contravene these commitments.

In addition, the UK Government’s net zero commitment is enshrined in law, and national planning policy for England includes an objective to move to a low-carbon economy. The Methwold application would threaten the delivery of both policies. To meet national climate change targets, the Committee on Climate Change recommends a 20-50% reduction in meat consumption by 2050.

Natasha Hurley, campaigns director at Foodrise, said: “The stakes couldn’t be higher. This megafarm would lock in emissions increases for years at a time when urgent action is needed to reduce them. Local councils have a responsibility to lead the way on climate action and that is why King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council must listen to the huge opposition by firmly rejecting this application which would be an environmental disaster.”

Lily O’Mara, climate justice officer at Sustain, said: “Allowing this megafarm to proceed without properly assessing its climate impact would be deeply irresponsible and fly in the face of the Council’s declared climate emergency. Approving this application would cancel out the Council’s entire emissions reduction efforts since 2009. What we really need to see is both local and national government investing in healthy and sustainable food.”

After the public consultation for the application closes at midnight on 24 January 2025, the Council will then consider all information submitted before reaching a decision on whether or not to grant planning permission in spring.

ENDS

For more information or to arrange an interview please contact:

Lily O’Mara, Climate Justice Officer– Sustain lily@sustainweb.org

Fraser Wilson, Communications Manager – Feedback fraser@foodrise.org.uk 07931 783084

Notes to editors:

• King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council’s latest Local Carbon Audit report and district emissions report shows that total gross emissions from council activities are 3,574 tonnes and transport emissions are 389,000 tonnes. The proposed development was estimated by Sustain to be capable of producing up to 120,000 tonnes CO₂ equivalent per year.

• Under the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017, environmental impact assessments must include greenhouse gas emissions and the project’s vulnerability to climate change. Despite this, planning applications for industrial livestock units do not currently include a detailed GHG assessment as the norm.

• Cranswick supplies most of the UK’s grocery retailers and has a strong presence in the wholesale and food service sectors as well as a “substantial export business.”
• Planning Application Documents Kings Lynn & West Norfolk Planning Portal
  • 22/00866/FM: Demolition of existing poultry sheds, construction of 20 new poultry sheds, 4 workers dwellings and associated infrastructure
  • 22/00860/FM: Demolition of existing buildings and construction of new buildings in connection with pig finishing provision and other associated works

[1] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-66375309; https://elflaw.org/past-cases/cranswick-pig-finishing-unit-causing-ammonia-and-dust-pollution-in-norfolk/ ; https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/crime/22654554.norfolk-food-firm-fined-75-000-releasing-polluted-liquid-brook/