Nocton Dairies Ltd - background

How did the Nocton Dairy project come about?

The Nocton Estate comprised 2,835 ha (7,000 acres) when it was purchased by Nocton Limited back in 1995. At that time it was very much an ongoing agricultural concern, but in year 2000 the growing of potatoes was phased out, as was the growing of sugar beet. Much of the crops were replaced with the growing of daffodil bulbs and flowers.

In 2007, Nocton Limited sold approximately 60% of the Nocton Estate's farmland (much of it fenland) to a Danish buyer, leaving roughly 2,800 acres in the ownership of Nocton Limited. A further 340 acres was advertised for sale with Grange Farm in June 2009 and Nocton Dairies Limited (incorporated 22 July 2009) decided to purchase this asset as possibly one of its first transactions.

I must at this point emphasize that Nocton Limited and Nocton Dairies Limited are two entirely separate companies under different ownership.

Nocton Dairies Ltd then made an offer for almost all the remaining Nocton Estate still owned by Nocton Ltd (circa 2,400 acres). The land and five properties were purchased in December 2009, leaving one remaining asset from the old Nocton Estate days. The old Estate Yard and agricultural buildings at the railhead in Nocton comprising of 16.1 ha (40 acres) still remain in the ownership of Nocton Ltd.

Who is behind the Nocton Dairies project?

Nocton Dairies is a company formed by a Devon farmer and cheese-maker, Peter Willes... and a Lancashire milk producer from Clitheroe, David Barnes.

After securing the purchase of the Nocton Estate land, an approach was then made to a local farmer, Robert Howard. Robert left a banking career to join the long-standing family business and has indicated his intention to make available 639 ha (approx 1,580 acres) of land and irrigation facilities to Nocton Dairies Ltd.

Why is this extra land and irrigation needed?

A 700kg cow produces about 70 litres of slurry per day... 567,000 litres per day for 8,100 cows. This amount of slurry effluent requires careful disposal. An old 'rule of thumb' was half an acre per cow for spring, one acre per cow for summer and 1.5 acres per cow in autumn if stockpiling forages.

However, many factors affect land requirements, depending on the maximum rate of nitrogen application per acre of land and whether it is in a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone. Sometimes, much more than half an acre per lactating cow is required.

Considering Nocton Dairies Ltd recently applied for planning permission to build an intensive dairy (February 2010), potentially housing 8,100 head of dairy cattle, do the math.

If Nocton Dairies Ltd own approximately 2,760 acres in Lincolnshire, even if one accepts that only half an acre per cow is required for spreading of slurry, they are still well short of their minimum requirement. Access to extra land will therefore be required.

It was noticeable from the original planning application that not only had Robert Howard expressed his intention to make available land and irrigation facilities, other farmers in the locality had also done likewise.

David Knott of Patrick Dean Ltd, Bracebridge Heath had also signed a document confirming his intention to make available 2,183 acres for the spreading of dairy effluent. There was an offer to make available his reservoir water for irrigation purposes as well.

Additionally, Tim Banks of Blankney Estates, Blankney had signed a similar document expressing an intention to make available 4,449 ha (11,117 acres) of land for the spreading of dairy effluent and three reservoirs for irrigation.

On the face of it, it is only through these voluntary offers of intent that Nocton Dairies Ltd will have sufficient land available for the spreading of the substantial amount of waste produced by their dairy cows.

There is also the issue of sufficient access to water supplies. The water abstraction licences resting with the local farmers will also be invaluable. Considering lactating Holstein cows require between 30 - 40 gallons per day for drinking (if you include waste management 40 - 50 gallons per day), get your head around these figures... that's between 243,000 gallons and 405,000 gallons PER DAY for 8,100 cows!

Collaboration between farming concerns is not new - see here. Where there are economies of scale it makes common sense. For Nocton Dairies Ltd it seems it is a must.

How is the dairy industry reacting to the public outcry to Nocton Dairies Ltd initial application?

A visit to the US was arranged for a number of UK dairy representatives by Kite Consulting and the NFU - see here.

It might be interesting to list those who were selected for this trip, particularly whether anyone connected with Nocton Dairies was in attendance. We will be considering doing this in due course and will report here again if so.

So what next?

It remains to be seen when the revised application will be submitted. As reported on this blog, the next phase is already in its formative stage... with the current application for an Environmental Impact Assessment Scoping Review.

If you are a local resident, you may like to consider the potential impacts this intensive dairy poses and whether or not you wish to form a response when the planning application is received by North Kesteven District Council.

Finally, you may like to be made aware of other related planning applications in this vicinity that may possibly affect you, although a couple have been withdrawn for the time-being, namely:

• Lincolnshire County Council: To construct a 1.08Mw Anaerobic Digestion Unit to include the building of six tanks and associated piping, a technical house, roadway upgrading and extension and 3 sided walling of an existing dutch barn and concrete hardstanding. Application No: N42/0206/10. Mr Robert Beck.
• North Kesteven District Council: Construction of winter storage reservoir. Application No: 10/0166/FUL. Nocton Dairies Ltd.
• North Kesteven District Council: To lay an underground pipe from Mere Pumphouse (north of Mere Hall Bracebridge Heath) to Boothby Heath Farm for Agricultural purposes... under Nocton Heath. Application No: 10/0486/FUL. Patrick Dean Ltd. Mr David Knott.
• North Kesteven District Council: Change of use of redundant agricultural buildings to commercial/industrial warehouse uses (use Classes B1, B2 & B8). Application No: 10/0641/FUL. Nocton Ltd. Mr Paul Clarke.

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