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Controversial Pig Farm Denied Retrospective Approval After Years of Complaints
11 Nov
Summary
- Cranswick, a major UK meat producer, denied retrospective planning permission for pig farm
- Hundreds of complaints over farm's smell led to rejection of application
- Firm failed to provide key environmental impact assessment document
As of November 11th, 2025, a controversial pig farm operated by one of the UK's largest meat producers, Cranswick, has been denied retrospective planning permission by Breckland Council. The farm, located in Stow Bedon, Norfolk, has attracted hundreds of complaints from nearby residents over the past several years due to its overwhelming smell.
Cranswick had expanded the site in 2021, increasing its capacity to house 7,000 pigs. However, the council has now ruled that the firm failed to provide a key environmental impact assessment document, a critical requirement for securing approval. Without this assessment, the council stated it could not conclude that the farm's operations would not have a significant environmental impact.
The decision has been welcomed by local advocacy groups like Communities Against Factory Farming (CAFF), who have long campaigned against the facility. They argue that the farm has caused "years of needless hardship and distress" for the surrounding community. The World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) had also previously objected to the plans on environmental grounds.
Cranswick maintains that it had provided "all the information required" for the original 2021 application, but the council has taken over four years to review the case. The firm is now working to update the requested information and plans to appeal the rejection.
