Dairy giant Arla Foods can press ahead with its planned liquid milk dairy in the UK after securing final approval from the country’s government. 

In September Arla Foods was given the go-ahead for the UK’s first zero-carbon dairy from local officials in the town of Aylesbury. 

UK Communities Secretary Eric Pickles gave government approval on Friday (21 October).

The new GBP150m (US$239.8m) facility is expected to process around 1.3bn litres of milk a year and create 700 jobs.

Arla Foods UK CEO Peter Lauritzen said: “Arla’s aim is to be a good long-term neighbour and we have therefore incorporated a multi million pound package of mitigation measures to effectively reduce or remove the effect of bringing the dairy to this site. We are also proposing to create a community liaison group so we can continue to work closely with local councillors and residents.”

Last month, Arla said it is aiming for the dairy to be operational “towards the end of 2012”.