Cranswick has been denied permission to build two massive sites in the villages of Methwold and Feltwell, which would have been one of the biggest in Europe.

The so-called “mega farm” would have housed around 714,000 chickens and 14,000 pigs but it was rejected due to environmental concerns.

What the farms would have looked like if approved (Image: Cranswick)

It suggests the tide has turned against factory farming on this scale, with developers being held to stricter expectations to prove new sites will not harm the environment through pollution and carbon emissions.

Following the decision, South West Norfolk MP Terry Jermy, who has been campaigning against the scheme, said: "I am very pleased with this unanimous result - it shows there is no ambiguity.

"If this was approved, it will have led to many more applications like this. This was a test case and the fact that this was refused gives us an opportunity to have conversations about the sort of farming we want in this country."

Terry Jermy, MP for South West Norfolk, was pleased the application was refused (Image: Owen Sennitt)

The refusal by West Norfolk Council (WNC) follows a huge amount of opposition from environmental activists and worried locals.

The application generated 15,000 objections, with 42,000 people also signing a petition against it.

The existing poultry sheds would have been demolished as part of the plans (Image: West Norfolk Council)

However, the outcome may not be the end of it, as Cranswick could consider appealing to government officials.

A Cranswick spokesman said: "We are incredibly disappointed. This is a bad day for the sustainable production of British meat. We'll now take time to........

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