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Dozens of Lorca pig farms set to be legalised after years of planning uncertainty
Thirty-seven farms operating without proper permits are set to be legalised this month but 15 others will have to shut down
Lorca city council is set to approve a change to the local urban plan this month that will legalise 37 pig farms that have been operating without proper permits for years.
The farms had originally been granted temporary permits but found themselves in an awkward position when the land they sat on was earmarked for residential and urban development that never actually happened.
Because of that, they couldn't get proper planning permission and ended up continuing to operate under a transitional regime that technically expired several years ago. Of the 52 farms that applied for legalisation, 37 have been successful and 15 have been rejected, meaning those 15 will now have to close.
PP Councillor for Livestock Ángel Meca described the move as a matter of "fairness" to the farmers involved, pointing out that these are "small farms located on land that has not undergone, or will not undergo, urban development in the medium or long term."
The initiative is being pushed through by the ruling PP and Vox coalition, which has the majority needed to pass it.
The 37 farms that have been given the go-ahead have been split into two groups depending on how their land is classified. Twenty-four of them have been granted a permanent permit, giving their owners the security of knowing their livelihoods are protected for the long term. The remaining 13 will receive a new temporary permit for another 15 years, similar to the one they've held since they were set up, although this means that they won't be able to expand their facilities.
All of the farms already comply with animal welfare regulations.
Councillor for Urban Planning María Hernández said the modification aims "to harmonise uses, without conflict with neighbours or extremist positions," adding that "it is based on dialogue and joint work between institutions and private individuals."
Before the plan could be processed, the city council was required to seek compliance reports from 17 public bodies, including 12 from the Region of Murcia covering areas such as natural heritage, livestock, water and the environment, five from the central government including the Segura River Basin Authority, and environmental organisations including Ecologists in Action and the Association of Naturalists of the Southeast.
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