Site Record

Lower Leighton is a dairy farm situated on the north eastern outskirts of Leighton, approximately a mile south east of Welshpool. In 2011 planning permission was given to build a 'super dairy' at the farm with the capacity to milk a thousand cows, whereas prior to 2011 the farm only had 300 cows. The new dairy plans included 'three large buildings, a fodder storage unit, two slurry stores and a water storage tower.' However, a public enquiry and a challenge to the plans at the High Court meant that work on constructing the £3.5 million dairy did not start until the summer of 2014.
Sources: BBC news (Powys 'mega dairy' plan gets go-ahead after public inquiry - 31st October 2013; 'Powys 'mega dairy' plan put on hold by judicial review' - 28th January 2014; 'Powys 'mega dairy' judicial review dismissed' - 12th June 2014) and Shropshire Star ('Assembly asked to intervene over Leighton Farm' 24th November 2011; 'Farmer 'relieved' after winning mega-dairy fight' - 13th June 2014.)
M. Ryder, RCAHMW, 14th January 2019.