ARLA aims to open its 1bn litre plant by end of 2012

ARLA Foods’ new billion-litre liquid milk dairy could be operational by the end of 2012 if planning permission is granted by the end of this year.

The £150m investment at Aston Clinton near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, will create almost 700 skilled local jobs and would be one of the most environmentally advanced dairies in the world. The aim is for a zero-carbon plant that sends no waste to landfill.

However, after consultation with local residents and councils, the detailed application was modified from the original plan, with the biomass plant proposal being removed as a result of concerns about the visual impact of the chimney.

To compensate for the loss of this and still meet the zero-carbon target, the capacity of the proposed combined heat and power plant would be increased, said Tim Evans, senior director of UK projects and engineering.

Extra woodland and planting is also planned, bringing the total to 13.8ha and the scale of planned commercial space that will sit alongside the dairy has been reduced. Some transport and access plans have also been changed to take account of local concerns.