A RIBBLE Valley farmer is behind plans for the UK’s largest dairy farm.

David Barnes, from Withgill Farm, Mitton, and his business partner Peter Willes, first applied to set up a 8,100-cow farm in Nocton Heath, Lincolnshire, in December last year.

Now they have re-submitted their plans for less than half that number – 3,770 animals.

If permission is granted, the dairy farm would still be nearly twice the size of the UK’s current largest, which is said to be Withgill Farm.

But Mr Barnes is facing a battle.

Critics claim the new controversial £34million “super dairy” would still be an environmental disaster and threaten the livelihoods of small-scale farmers.

However, Mr Barnes and partner Peter Willes, who farms in Devon, said they had addressed these environmental and animal welfare concerns within the new plans.

Withgill Farm started out with 450 cows, but now boasts 2,000.

Mr Barnes has revamped its facilities, expanding into a neighbouring unit when it came up for sale in 1993 and creating new buildings in 2000 to help him take advantage of the efficiencies of a larger scale operation.

Mr Barnes feels cattle are better treated indoors than out, due to high rainfall making it difficult to keep cows in top condition when outside.

He believes their feet are also healthier inside.

Under the new plans for Lincolnshire, the cows would have access to outdoor paddocks during good weather in the summer for up to seven hours a day.

A statement from Mr Barnes said: “We’re very conscious of concerns about water, public health, smell, traffic and welfare, and need to prove that this farming model is sustainable in that particular location.

"The advantage is we’ve got a brand new site and we can design all this in from the start rather than having to adapt an older farm to deal with modern requirements, which is always a challenge for any farmer.”

And Mr Willes, who farms in Devon, added that extra steps would be taken to safely store and transport the waste produced by the dairy.

Nocton Dairies said the farm would be sustainable and create 60 jobs.

It said it would also produce renewable energy to power 830 homes and fertiliser from the cows, and have a low-carbon footprint as the animal feed would be grown locally.

A 13-week consultation will be held by North Kesteven District Council.