How to oppose factory farming proposals

Help fight factory farming in your area

In order to end factory farming, we need people all over the UK to take the fight to their communities by objecting to new proposals for factory farms.

Countless reports show the detrimental impacts of factory farming on animal welfare, human health, rural livelihoods and the environment. This cannot be the future of British farming.

You have the power to speak out. Read on to find out how you can object to an intensive farming proposal in your area.

Find planning applications near you

When a developer chooses to build a new intensive farm near you, they first need to submit a planning application to your local council.

You can find planning applications on your local council's website by looking up your council's name along with “planning applications” on a search engine.

In some cases, when the Compassion team becomes aware of a factory farm proposal, we call on supporters to join us in raising an objection. So be sure to sign up for our email alerts to find out if we’re objecting to a proposal near you!

How to make your objection

Sending Your Objection Online

If you find a planning application for an intensive farm on your council's website, you should be able to submit an objection. In most cases, you'll need to click on the 'Comment' tab of the planning application web page. Some councils might then ask you to register for an account in order to submit a comment.

The 'Comment' tab should also contain detailed advice on what to say – for example, you might need to include the word 'object' or 'objection' in your comment. Be sure to check these guidelines, so you can submit your objection with confidence.

Sending Your Objection By Post

If you prefer, you can usually send a written objection directly to your council – make sure you include the application’s reference number. You can get in touch with your council for advice on submitting an objection by post.

Sometimes, the closing date for objections might not be clear on the website. In some cases, the council may even extend the deadline but not update the website. If in doubt, try contacting the council – you can ask to be put through to the department that deals with planning applications.

What to include in your objection

Your objection must relate to the specific application and be based on relevant planning matters, which may include:

Impact on parking, traffic and road safety.
Noise and disturbance to local residents.
Environmental pollution, such as ammonia released by decomposing manure.
The scale of the farm and the intensive system used.
The preventative use of antibiotics.

Animal welfare does not usually fall in the criteria for planning applications – unless there is a breach of the law. However, please do mention your welfare concerns in your objection.

You can read an example of one of our formal objections for further guidance.

It’s vital that councillors understand the strength of opposition among residents to the invasion of factory farming into local towns and the countryside. Be sure to spread the word among your friends, family and local community and encourage them to send in their own objections to the application.

Supporting information

You can find out more about the detrimental impacts of factory farming – for animals, humans, and the environment – in our Beyond Factory Farming and Eating the Planet reports. A wide range of free reports and briefings on specific topics are available in our Research section.