Davidstow Creamery

Davidstow Creamery produces Cathedral City Cheese and other dairy products. It is the largest cheese manufacturer in UK, producing over 100 tonnes of cheese a day. 

It has been in operation for around 70 years in its current location and discharges treated waste water to the River Inny.

Davidstow Creamery is operated by Dairy Crest Limited. The Operator has applied to vary their permit for the site to authorise an increased cheese production capacity - from 9.6 to 11.4 tonnes per hour. In addition, several operational updates and improvements are included in the application. Most relate to the nearby effluent treatment plant (WPF – water processing facility). 

In addition to the permit variation the Operator has applied for, we are undertaking an Environment Agency Initiated permit Variation (AIV) to implement the latest legal requirements and to review the limits and parameters associated with the current discharge of treated waste water. We will ensure any limits sufficiently protect the River Inny. The possible permit variations are separate and not reliant on each other but we intend to consider them together, so far as is practical, so that we would only need to vary the permit once in respect of all.

We assess all permit applications to make sure they meet the requirements of the Environmental Permitting Regulations. Dairy Crest Limited cannot increase cheese production at the site without us varying their environmental permit. If granted, a permit variation would ensure that they use best available techniques, to prevent pollution and to minimise impacts on the environment and people.

Dairy Crest Limited will need to demonstrate they are putting in place appropriate measures to protect people and the environment. The variation application is accompanied by documents which detail how the applicant intends to do this. The plans will describe the measures to be taken to control the risks identified. The Operator will need to show that what they propose uses the Best Available Technique for preventing or minimising emissions and impacts on the environment. It is expected that the Company will continuously review and improve their plans.

When we consider a permit variation we review the proposal and whether it will have an adverse impact on people and the natural environment. If we decide to vary a permit we may set any necessary additional conditions to ensure people and the environment are protected. In order to achieve the objectives of those conditions, the operator will need to show that they will use the current Best Available Techniques (BAT) which are set out in the BAT Reference Document.

We are currently determining Dairy Crest Limited's application to vary their environmental permit, as well as drafting a new permit for the site to review the limits of the treated waste water. We will incorporate both changes into one new permit.

Once we think we are ready to issue the new permit we will ask you to read it and send us your comments during a formal consultation period. 

We hope this will be soon. We will let you know on this page when the consultation is open. We will also advertise the consultation by writing to those of you on our mailing list, posting on social media and in a local newspaper.

You will be able to send us your comments on our consultation portal, Citizen Space, or by writing to us by email or letter.