Royal Estate Slurry Lagoon Gets Green Light Amid Local Opposition
King Charles' Sandringham Farms has been granted planning approval to construct a substantial slurry lagoon on the Royal Estate in Norfolk, despite significant concerns raised by nearby villagers regarding potential safety issues and unpleasant odours. The decision, made by King's Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council, allows for the development of a reservoir capable of holding nearly 10,000 cubic metres of farm digestate, commonly produced from animal and crop waste.
Village Concerns Over Safety and Year-Round Odour
Residents of Flitcham, a village situated approximately 1.5 miles from the proposed site on Icknield Way, had vocally opposed the plans during the consultation phase. The parish council and local inhabitants expressed fears that the lagoon could lead to persistent odour problems, particularly when winds blow toward the community. Parish clerk Gill Welham formally documented these apprehensions, highlighting the potential impact on village life.
One concerned resident elaborated on the existing issues, stating that current fertilisation practices already generate "atrocious" odours in Flitcham. The villager emphasised health worries, especially given the presence of a primary school and a significant elderly population in the area. The proposal, by locating the lagoon so near to the village, raised the prospect of odour becoming a year-round concern for both schoolchildren and other residents.
Agricultural Expert Questions Centralised Approach
Evidence submitted by agricultural expert Simon Mosley challenged the necessity of a single, centralised lagoon. Mosley argued that a distributed network of smaller, well-located storage facilities would be a more appropriate and potentially less intrusive solution for the area. This alternative approach was presented during the planning process but was ultimately not adopted in the final decision.
Council Approval and Proposed Mitigation Measures
Despite the objections, the council's planning officer concluded that the development constituted lawful progress. The officer's report acknowledged the concerns but stated that Sandringham Estates would implement various measures to control odour impacts. These mitigation strategies include maintaining clean transfer points, using enclosed tankers for slurry delivery, and stirring the lagoon only as strictly required to minimise emissions.
A planning statement issued on behalf of Sandringham Farms outlined the operational rationale for the lagoon. It will serve a vast 6,600-acre landholding dedicated to farming wheat, barley, and oats. The facility is designed to provide fertiliser for the surrounding network of fields, with its location deemed ideal for meeting agricultural needs. The statement also noted that the lagoon would be "visually contained" by existing vegetation along field boundaries.
Business Resilience and Reduced External Dependence
The development is framed as a move to enhance the estate's agricultural resilience. The planning statement argued that the new lagoon would reduce the business's reliance on importing fertiliser from elsewhere during critical spreading periods. This, in turn, would make the operation less exposed to wider market supply issues and help secure a sufficient, consistent supply of fertiliser to meet its spreading requirements. The site is notably situated near Anmer Hall, the Sandringham home of Prince William, on an estate that passed to King Charles following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022.
