The decision to refuse an environmental permit for one of Britain’s first industrial-style “mega” pig farms has been welcomed by campaigners.
The 25,000-pig unit at Foston, Derbyshire, has been the subject of fierce opposition in a four-year-long fight, which has seen celebrities including The Wire actor Dominic West and River Cottage chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall stand up against the proposed farm on the basis of its size.
Now, in a landmark decision, the Environment Agency has turned down a permit application by Midland Pig Producers for the farm project on the grounds it would “offend human senses” and generate “significant pollution due to odour”.
Welcoming the outcome, campaigners said there was mounting public anxiety that industrial, intensive pig-rearing systems caused stress and illness in animals and threatened human health.
They said regular over-use of antibiotics in such “factory” farm systems produced antibiotic-resistant superbugs, while the farms also pollute the air and water.
A statement from the Environment Agency said: “After considering all of the information, the Environment Agency cannot be satisfied that the activities can be undertaken without resulting in significant pollution of the environment due to odour.”
The agency cited health threats from bio-aerosols and ammonia, impact on wildlife sites and the contamination of watercourses among its reasons for refusing the permit.
They also considered the rights of the people living nearby under the European Convention on Human Rights.
More than 34,000 people signed a petition against the mega pig farm.
Commenting on the outcome Midland Pig Producers, which lodged proposals for a pig unit and anaerobic digestion plant in 2011, said it was pleased a decision had finally been made but it was “not the end of the matter”.
The company did, however, concede the remainder of its pig farm project at Foston now stands in jeopardy.
“While not wishing to second-guess any decision by any other body, it seems inevitable that this outcome will provide others with the reason to refuse any application connected with our plans,” said a company spokesman.
“However, now that we have an actual decision, we can move forward. This is not the end of the matter, but the beginning of the second stage.”