A farmer has agreed to stop rearing pigs in return for £1.5million of public money so that officials can grant permission for 5,000 new homes to be built.
The deal is part of a move to reduce pollution in waterways in Norfolk and get housebuilding moving again.
The pig farm is located on either side of the A47 bypass south of Norwich. Closing it down will mean a significant reduction in pollution, allowing the building of 5,000 new homes.
Local authorities have been told to find ways to “offset” the impact of pollution on waterways caused by new developments in a directive issued last year.
Dubbed “nutrient neutrality” it was praised by environmentalists who said it would limit the amount of dangerous substances in rivers and lakes, like nitrogen and phosphorous.
The government called the plan “reckless” as they argued it would hold up much needed housebuilding but it was forced through the House of Lords by Labour and Lib Dem peers.
The deal in Norfolk has now raised concern that farmers in other regions will be paid similar amounts while the amount of homegrown produce will be further reduced.
New developments can not be approved in some areas unless they offeset the environmental impact that could be caused. Norfolk’s solution was to pay farmers to stop rearing pigs.
The farmer will be paid through Norfolk Environmental Credits Ltd but hope to have the money returned by developers.
The farm in question, Markshall Farm, rears up to 2,000 pigs every year which in turns produces nutrients to two nearby rivers.
It is unclear what will happen to the pigs, but they were likely be sent to abattoirs for their meat.
Owner James Daniels, 66, told the Mail people thought he was receiving an “obscene amount of money” for “quitting” his job but he insisted he was “doing everyone a favour” by helping the environment.
He said: “It really makes me angry when people say I’m profiting from this. It’s compensation for giving everything up. I’m the second generation of my family on this farm after my father got it in 1950. My son wanted to take it over.”
He added it would become a haven for nature, saying: “The money… is only going to pay me for eight to ten years worth of putting pigs on there. That was my living.”
But independent South Norfolk councillor Clayton Hudson said: “My concern is about openness and transparency, with this potential use of public money.
“And I’m not sure stopping a pig farmer from putting nutrients in the system only to replace that with more development solves the issue.”
