Press release – Hundreds of environmental breaches recorded at industrial livestock farms across East Anglia as decision looms on Norfolk megafarm expansion

Industrial-scale livestock farms across East Anglia breached environmental rules hundreds of times in recent years, internal government records released by environmental groups reveal.

This comes as King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council considers its decision on the expansion of a climate-wrecking, US-style megafarm in Norfolk following last week’s closure of a public consultation which attracted thousands of objections.

The documents – copies of inspection and enforcement reports obtained by the investigative group AGtivist following Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to the Environment Agency [1] and released today by environmental campaign groups Feedback Global and Sustain – show how intensive poultry and pig farms across Norfolk and Suffolk, as well as elsewhere in East Anglia, have violated environmental regulations at least 776 times since 2017 [2].

This means breaches occurred at least twice a week or nearly ten times a month, on average, during the period (2017-2024) [3].

Among the breaches documented by inspectors were water, ground and air pollution incidents, including waterways being contaminated with slurry and excessive odours, dead animal carcasses being left outside rather than in sealed containers, farms being overstocked with more livestock than allowed, and irregularities relating to the transport and disposal of farm waste.

The shocking new data comes just a week after Chancellor Rachel Reeves called for watchdog bosses to ‘tear down regulatory barriers that hold back growth’ – despite evidence that companies cannot be trusted within the current system.

Many of the violations related to the management of intensive farms, record keeping, the condition of livestock buildings and other infrastructure, as well as ammonia emissions.

The findings raise fresh concerns about standards on factory farms – and the negative environmental impacts of such units – and come as planning officials consider proposals from industrial meat producer Cranswick PLC for a controversial megafarm in Norfolk that would rear over six million chickens and 56,000 pigs a year.

Under current regulations, intensive livestock farms above a certain size threshold – 40,000 poultry birds or 2,000 fattening pigs or 750 breeding pigs – must hold a permit to operate, issued by the Environment Agency. Farms holding a permit are inspected to assess livestock housing, slurry and manure storage, and drainage systems. They are also inspected to check farm records relating to animal numbers, feed, energy and water use, and waste disposal.

In a joint submission to the Borough Council’s consultation, Feedback Global and Sustain objected to the megafarm application on a number of grounds, including that a lack of information on greenhouse gas emissions in the application means it is not legally compliant.

The development could increase emissions by more than 120,000 tonnes of CO₂-equivalent annually, contrary to the Council’s climate strategy and the UK’s legally-binding commitment to achieve net zero by 2050.

Natasha Hurley, Campaigns Director at Feedback Global, said: “The finding that industrial farms in East Anglia are committing the equivalent of two environmental breaches every single week starkly underlines why King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council must firmly reject the current proposal for a climate-wrecking megafarm near Methwold.

“This newly revealed data clearly shows this kind of US-style industrial farming is absolutely no way to rear livestock, as it leads to a litany of consequences from water, ground and air pollution through to animal welfare issues and foul odours. This is all in addition to factory farming’s colossal climate impact, which jeopardises both local and national climate targets. What more proof does the Borough Council need that expanding emissions-intensive factory farming as the climate crisis intensifies is total madness?”

Lily O’Mara, Climate Justice Fellow at Sustain, said “Time and again, big agri-businesses claim to care about sustainability while routinely failing to meet even the most basic regulations. The government should strengthen enforcement on vital safeguards for our soils, rivers and air and not weaken planning policy where there is mounting evidence of environmental violations and unsustainable practices.

“The Chancellor and Environment Secretary should recognise that rural communities paying the price while corporate agribusinesses reap the rewards is not the kind of economic growth the country needs. The government must commit to a just transition out of the exploitative and damaging system of intensive livestock farming to a sustainable, fair and nature-friendly food model.”

ENDS

For more information contact Fraser Wilson, Communications Manager at Feedback Global on fraser@feedbackglobal.org or 07931783084.

Notes to editors

References

[1] Records were obtained from the EA via two separate Freedom of Information requests spanning 2017-2022, and 2022-2024 (the most recent records available).

[2]  Farms are officially classified by the EA as intensive if they house more than 40,000 poultry or 2,000 fattening pigs or 750 breeding pigs, under current regulations.

[3] At least 776 breaches were recorded across 2017 to 2024 (exact timespan Monday 24 April 2017 to Friday 26 April 2024).  776 divided into 84 months or 365.5 weeks or 7 years 2 days (7 years) = 9.2 (almost 10) breaches a month, on average or  2.1 (2) breaches a week, on average  or 110.8 (110) breaches a year, on average.