Permits for large UK pig farm denied by environment agency

• 

  Andrea Gantz

  The U.K. environment agency has denied permits for a large pig farm in Foston, Derbyshire.

  From WATTAgNet:
  Midland Pig Producers’ plan to build a 24,000-head pig farm in Foston, Derbyshire, has hit a snag after the U.K. environment agency rejected permits for the operation, saying the farm would have resulted in “significant pollution due to odor.”
  Midland Pig Producers had planned to build the facility on a plot of land near the Foston Hall women’s prison. Its proposal included an anaerobic digester and a biogas combustion plant for treatment of manure and slurry at the site, which would have been situated yards from the prison.
  The proposed project had seen a large number of opponents, including more than 34,000 people that signed a petition against the farm. The Soil Association had earlier said it had concerns for the health of prisoners at Foston Hall and for nearby villagers.
  Midland Pig Producers accepted the outcome of the agency’s recommendation, but added that it will continue to pursue building such a farm.
  "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,” a spokesman for Midland Pig Producers said.
  "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."