Dairy farm to expand next to former RAF airfield

A dairy farm in the Cotswolds has been given permission to build a new barn for its cows.

Manor Farm Dairy sits next to the former World War Two RAF Chedworth airfield. Its owner, Seb Clarke, was given approval to build the barn by Cotswold District Council.

Mr Clarke's farm produces over one million litres of milk a year.

"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," he told the council's planning committee.

Council officers said the farm's cows primarily feed on grass and are not housed in buildings.

But due to poor weather, some calves have died and there has been a reduction in milk collection, as well as higher than average levels of bovine tuberculosis on the farm.

Mr Clarke told the meeting: "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.

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

His application to build a new barn was approved unanimously by the council, after officers had recommended refusing it due to the potential harm to the Cotswold National Landscape.

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