West Norfolk MP Liz Truss calls for answers to concerns over Cranswick’s plans for two mega-farms in Methwold

It has become one of the most controversial planning decisions in years with thousands of objections including from vegetarian food giant Quorn.

And now former prime minister and South West Norfolk MP Liz Truss has intervened in the dispute, demanding her constituents’ long list of concerns be answered.

Cranswick’s plans to create two mega-farms housing 870,000 chickens and 14,000 pigs in Methwold have been met with a tide of objections from locals living in the surrounding villages and animal rights activists across the country.

With a decision on the application facing delay after delay, Ms Truss wrote a letter to West Norfolk Council’s leader Terry Parish earlier this month, calling on the authority to issue “an urgent response” to people’s fears about the project.

In the letter, she highlights several issues that people have raised with her, ranging from a huge increase in HGV traffic to concerns that pollution from the site could cause health issues.

However, in a response, a West Norfolk Council planning officer said the authority is unable to discuss the matter as it is a live planning application.

He said: “Officers will give those matters robust consideration and review as part of the decision-making process.”

Ms Truss’ intervention comes amid revelations that Norfolk has experienced a 20% jump in ammonia emissions from poultry mega-farms between 2017 and 2022 – the biggest rise in England.

A report by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism and iNews found emissions of ammonia – a gas emitted from livestock and farm waste that has been linked with higher death rates and cardiovascular and respiratory problems – are on the rise across the UK.

Food giant Cranswick says the twin schemes – which would create one of the biggest livestock farming sites in the country – will be a “sustainable, modern farm” that will help deliver affordable produce, create jobs and boost the local economy.

A decision on the scheme is expected later this year.