Homes in Methwold and Feltwell are being devalued as a result of megafarm plan - it has been claimed

Villagers have claimed plans to build what would be one of the biggest livestock farms in the country has devalued surrounding properties by 25 per cent.

People living in Methwold and Feltwell continue to face an anxious wait over food giant Cranswick’s bid to create the controversial site, which will produce millions of chickens and thousands of pigs a year.

A provisional date has been pencilled in for when councillors will decide the fate of what has become one of the most controversial planning applications in this part of the county for years.

With just weeks to go, Shirley De’Ath, a campaigner opposing the site who lives in nearby Brookville, said the looming scheme had affected the value of their homes.

She told a national newspaper: “It has taken over our lives and even if we wanted to move, we can’t. Estate agents are already knocking 25 per cent off asking prices because of these plans.”

Cranswick’s megafarm plans, which it says will be a modern and sustainable farm, have led to huge concern among villagers who worry about the potential environmental harm and increased traffic it could create.

The application has generated more than 15,000 objections and animal rights groups and environmental campaigners, including the World Wide Fund for Nature, have opposed the scheme.

A decision on the project has faced several delays and it has taken nearly three years for the proposal to be ready to come before councillors.

The effect that planning applications may have on property values is not a factor authorities can consider when making decisions, according to the Planning Inspectorate – the government department that presides over planning matters.

A spokesperson for West Norfolk Council said a planning committee meeting to discuss it has been pencilled in for April 3.

However, circumstances could change which may cause the meeting to be postponed.