Govt. must set out clear plans against 'Mega Farms'- Waveney MP
A Westminster Hall debate is taking place on this tomorrow, at 2.30pm
A Waveney MP is calling on the Government to set out clear plans, which deters the growth of so-called 'Mega Farms'.
The appeal comes from Adrian Ramsay who's secured a debate in Parliament tomorrow, on this farming practice.
This Westminster Hall debate is taking place tomorrow, at 2.30pm.
In April, a so-called "US-style megafarm" proposed for Methwold in Norfolk was refused planning permission.
The plans by food producers Cranswick say it could house around 714,000 chickens and 14,000 pigs has been refused planning permission amid environmental concerns.
West Norfolk Borough Council's planning officers cited the "significant effects of the project on the environment", in their decision.
"The Government has got to be clear, this is not the direction that we want to see"
Adrian Ramsay represents Waveney Valley:
"There's huge concerns about these so-called 'Mega-Farms' from local people.
"Many are worried about the pollution impacts from this, the traffic movements that comes with it and how animal waste could worsen the on-going sewage crisis".
"The Government has got to be clear, this is not the direction that we want to see. This is not who are as a country.
"I really hope that the Government takes this debate seriously and steps up the action that it's taking.
"I'd like to see the Minister set out why we're seeing a huge proliferation of industrial chicken and pig farms, mega-farms that undermine animal welfare standards"
What's the Government said on this?
A Defra spokesperson said:
“We are proud to have some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world.
"We ensure all farms are closely regulated and farms of all sizes have a role to play in promoting sustainable British agriculture.”
Defra background briefing:
On animal welfare:
• All farms must comply with comprehensive UK law on animal health and welfare, planning, veterinary medicines and the environment. Stockmanship and high husbandry standards are key to ensuring appropriate welfare standards for all farmed animals.
• Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) inspectors and local authorities conduct inspections on farms to check that the animal welfare standards are being met.
On intensive farming:
• There are a number of different farming systems in use within the UK and farms of all sizes have a role to play in promoting sustainable UK agriculture.
• The Environment Agency is responsible for regulating intensive pig and poultry farms under the Environmental Permitting Regulations (2016). Poultry farms with a capacity of more than 40,000 birds, and pig farms with a capacity of more than 2000 places for production pigs (or more than 750 places for sows), require an environmental permit in order to operate. Each permit is site based, regulating the activity of a specific farm.
• The Environment Agency has conducted over 14,000 farm inspections, requiring farmers to carry out more than 23,000 improvement actions since 2021 across the agriculture sector as a whole.
• Permitting is effective in controlling the environmental impact of intensive pig and poultry farms. As a sector, compliance levels with environmental permits are typically very high. During 2024, 98% of permitted sites fell within the highest two levels of compliance (band A and B sites), indicating a low level of risk to the environment.
Local area:
• The impacts on the local area, such as on traffic levels, is a matter for Local Planning Authorities to consider when issuing planning consent.