A local authority in the east of England has approved plans for the construction of a new feed mill by British poultry feed company, 2Agriculture.
This week, Breckland Council approved plans for a new feed mill in the village of Snetterton, Norfolk in the United Kingdom (U.K.) Seeking this approval was 2Agriculture.
According to Eastern Daily Press (EDP), 2Agriculture will now go ahead with development of the site, to include grain silos, office buildings and a 40-meter-high milling tower. Cost of the investment is given as GBP40 million (US$55 million).
Supporting its plans, the firm had highlighted that a modern facility is needed to sustain poultry farms that are vital to the agricultural economy of the East Anglia region.
Previously, local people had raised objections to the proposed development. As well as concerns expressed over safety, traffic levels and light pollution, the proposed site was alleged to be outside the agreed local development area. At its most recent meeting, Breckland Council passed the proposal by the narrowest of margins — by six votes to five.
In March, EDP reported supporting comments from 2Agriculture’s managing director, Kevin Sketcher. He said the height of the feed mill was necessary for the operation of the gravity-fed milling process. He added that the energy-efficient modern mill would bring savings in food miles and carbon emissions.
According to this source’s latest report, the new mill will allow 2Agriculture to close its current base in Stoke Ferry. It will also facilitate the expansion of the business, and create 24 new jobs.
More on 2Agriculture
An independent business, 2Agriculture acquired the former feed mill of Bernard Matthews in 2017. The operations of Bernard Matthews were acquired for the Boparan Group by Ranjit Boparan from Rutland Partners. In 2020, 2Agriculture’s annual production was estimated to be around 1 million metric tons of feed for broilers, broiler breeders, layers, ducks and turkeys.
According to its own website, 2Agriculture is based at Ingliston near Edinburgh in Scotland. As well as five feed mills — one in each of Scotland, East Midlands and North Wales, and two in East Anglia — the firm operates its own extrusion plant in eastern England. This facility manufactures an ingredient for its poultry diets. Across these six sites, the firm has around 250 employees.
In 2016, construction began on a new poultry feed mill for 2Agriculture in Scotland.
This year, another U.K.-based feed company ABN announced its intention to build a feed mill in eastern England.
