Dairy farm expanding next to former WWII airfield

Seb Clarke has been granted permission by Cotswold District Council to build a large barn for cows at Manor Farm Dairy next to the former RAF Chedworth airfield.

Council officers told the planning committee on January 15 that the farm is operating toward a New Zealand system, with the cows primarily feeding on grass and not being housed in buildings.

However, due to poor weather conditions, this has led to the death of calves as well as reduced milk collection, they said in their report.

The lack of current housing also appears to have led to higher than average levels of bovine tuberculosis on the farm.

So they say they need the barn which is 103.6m by 32.4m with eaves and ridge heights of 4.6m and 9m to provide shelter to the cattle and a more secure feed area.

The farm business has been in the family for 101 years, with the applicant having taken over in 2023.

Around half their milk production goes to local cheese maker King Stone Dairy which is based within the farm holding, most of the rest goes to a dairy near Bristol which is sold in Marks and Spencer’s.

They also bottle some of their milk at a local café, deli and small self-service vending machine in Chedworth Village Hall.

And also have multiple environmental stewardship agreements in place over a significant amount of their land, the report said.

Mr Clarke spoke at the meeting and said the farm produces more than one million litres of milk a year.

“We have a world-class cheese maker, King Stone Dairy, located on the farm.

“The Ashcombe cheese won supreme champion at the British Cheese Awards, making it the best cheese in Britain.

“Our tiny farm shop is currently the only service provided to over 800 villagers in Chedworth.

“I want to make it very clear that this development and your decision is all about the survival of Manor Farm.

“We lose approximately £135,000 of milk income over the 55 months the cows are outwintered.

“The farm has not made a profit for the last five years. This development will result in more milk and will result in a long-term profitable business.

“This is all about survival, without this shed, we will not survive.”

Ward councillor Paul Hodgkinson (LD, Chedworth and Churn Valley) said the application was before the committee due to its size but views on the proposals have not polarised the community of Chedworth.

He said he has received differing opinions from residents and he said farmers have faced huge pressures in recent years.

“Farmers do an absolutely essential job for us all,” he said. “It’s a very established farm and is a great example of organic and regenerative farming.

“The applicant has reached out to the local community and supplies fresh produce via a vending machine in Chedworth village hall. I’ve had lots of positive feedback about what the farm is doing in Chedworth.”

Officers had recommended refusing permission due to the development’s unacceptable harm to the Cotswold National Landscape.

But during the debate, Councillor David Fowles (C, Coln Valley) said the committee had to make a very finely balanced decision.

He praised the “thorough” report by the officer but said the farm predates many of the council’s policies and he proposed approving the scheme.

“It’s a given that farming has changed. It no longer employs as many people as it used to,” Cllr Fowles said.

“The equipment is bigger and farmers, to their immense credit, are still out there. There is a very clear case that this business will not survive if we do not support this application. I believe the applicant, the vet and the ward member.

“No, I don’t want this huge building there but I think it needs to be there to let this business survive.”

The committee voted unanimously to grant permission.