Plans for a new robotic dairy unit in Allington, near Devizes, were approved by the eastern area planning committee last night, despite fears that it will be a blot on the landscape.

Oram & Sons, which operates Manor Farm in Allington, applied to build a new unit on land opposite the farmyard, which will allow 240 cows to be milked by four robotic milking machines.

Objectors argued that the new unit is too big and would change the nature of the village which lies within the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Speaking at the meeting, Allington resident Andy Potts said: “The closest dwelling, Chestnuts, is currently the most prominent building in almost any distant view of Allington, it will be completely dwarfed by the new structure.

“It is undeniably very big, ugly and completely out of scale with the surroundings, worse than that, its elevated position next to Chestnuts means it will be the most prominent feature for miles around.

“The risk of the sustainability of this development are unquantified therefore should the council decide to grant approval it would be reasonable to set a condition that provision be made to restore this prominent site back to its greenfield state incase this venture does fail.

“Please protect us from having a derelict eyesore dominating a lovely little village.”

John Kirkman from the Campaign to Protect Rural England added: “I can find no evidence that the building would benefit the local economy, no new employment, no evidence that the building would increase prosperity for farm employees.

“The financial evidence that is provided says 'the project will be broadly neutral to the business', I assume this means the development would not change the profitability of the farm, there is no evidence that the farm would fail if this structure were not built.”

Andrew Oram, a partner of Oram & Sons, said that the current milking parlor is dated and that combined with regulations, tighter targeting on milk quality and animal welfare meant that a new purpose-built unit was necessary in order for them to continue dairy farming.

He said: “This is a substantial investment for us and the decision behind the application has not been taken lightly.

“We realise that our farm is a dominant feature of Allington but with time this development will blend into the landscape.

“If the proposal is refused it is very likely that the dairy herd will be sold and the cows of Allington will be gone forever.”

Coun Stewart Dobson asked if a condition could be imposed that insured the building could only be used for as a dairy unit and if the project failed the land would have to be returned to its original state.

Case officer April Waterman said she felt this was an unfair condition but it was pointed out that if Oram & Sons wanted to use the unit for something else they would have to apply for a change of use. The application was passed with five councillors voting in favour and only Coun Nick Fogg objecting.