How to join the fight against factory farming

Want to join the fight against factory farming? Our seven-step guide can take you from zero to animal welfare hero. So, whether you're completely new to planning applications or you’re already a seasoned objector, you can quickly become an animal welfare champion in your local community.

In this guide you will find: 

1. What you need to know
2. Check what’s happening in your area
3. Take action on a factory farm proposal
4. Create a local campaign group in your community
5. Get your councillors and MP on board
6. Get the media interested
7. Connect with us

Intensive livestock producers say that factory farming is a necessary solution to feed a growing population and support rural economies. But the reality tells a very different story for animals, people, and the planet. 

Behind the headlines, industrial farming systems are: 

• Cruel by design with animals kept in overcrowded, barren conditions that prevent even the most basic natural behaviours. Many suffer from stress, injury, and chronic health problems and will never experience life outdoors.
• Resource intensive, relying heavily on imported animal feed such as soy. This demand drives deforestation in regions like South America and is linked to land grabbing and harm to Indigenous communities.
• A major driver of climate change contributing significant greenhouse gas emissions, including methane from animals, nitrous oxide from manure and fertilisers and carbon emissions linked to imported feed. These impacts are often downplayed or not accounted for in planning applications.
• Land intensive with 40% of the UK’s arable land used to grow feed for farmed animals instead of food directly for people, meaning huge areas that could produce food directly for people are instead tied up sustaining factory farming. 
• Low in meaningful employment, as highly mechanised systems replace traditional farming jobs and reduce opportunities in rural communities.  
• Risking public health by putting workers and locals at risk of zoonotic diseases such as avian and swine flu due to poor welfare and sanitary conditions, and contributing to the rise of antimicrobial resistance.  

There is a better way forward. By transitioning towards higher-welfare farming, supporting plant-rich diets and investing in sustainable practices like agroecological and sustainable farming, horticulture and rewilding, we can: 

• Give animals the lives they deserve
• Produce food more efficiently and ethically
• Support rural jobs and communities
• Protect nature and reduce emissions

Factory farms are often approved with little public awareness or input, but you have the right to know what could be being built near you. 

You can search for developments in your area by visiting your local council’s planning portal. This is where applications for new or expanding intensive farms are published. To find these applications, try searching terms like “poultry,” “pig,” “livestock,” “intensive,” or “agricultural unit.” Using a mix of keywords can help you uncover applications that might otherwise be easy to miss. 

Otherwise, sign up to hear from us, and we’ll also let you know whenever a factory farm application is submitted near you, and share simple ways you can take action. 

If a factory farm expansion or new build is proposed near you, you have the right to speak up, and your voice can genuinely influence the outcome. By raising your concerns, you can Be Their Voice for the animals who have none. 

You can submit an objection through your local council’s planning portal or by emailing the planning officer directly. It may feel daunting at first, but taking it step by step makes it completely manageable. 

1. Read our planning objection tips 
2. Use them to draft your own response in your own words  
3. Submit it via the planning portal or send it by email  
4. Set a reminder so you don’t miss the deadline 

If the application goes to a planning committee, you may also be able to speak for a few minutes and share your concerns in person. If that feels like too much, you can ask someone else to speak on your behalf. 

When writing your objection, try to focus on relevant planning issues like pollution, traffic, greenhouse gas emissions or animal welfare, as these are the factors councils must consider when making decisions.  

And remember: your local knowledge is powerful. You understand your area better than anyone, whether that’s flood risks, wildlife, road safety, or how the land is used. If you can, include photos or videos to support your points. 

By taking these steps, you’re helping to Be Their Voice and protect animals, communities, and the environment from the impacts of factory farming. 

Challenging a factory farm can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. Some of the most successful campaigns have been driven by local people coming together and taking action as a group. 

Start by reaching out to others nearby. Talk to your neighbours, knock on a few doors, share leaflets, or set up a WhatsApp group to keep everyone in the loop. You might be surprised how many people share your concerns once the conversation gets going. It’s also worth checking if there’s already a group in your area. Many communities organise online, so try searching on Facebook using your location and keywords like “residents” or “campaign,” along with the name of the proposed development. 

You could also connect with: 

• Local groups that are part of the Community Planning Alliance  
• Local Wildlife Trusts or Friends of the Earth Local Action Group 
• Campaigners working on river pollution 
• Communities Against Factory Farming (CAFF) who support local people to challenge new factory farms 
• The Environmental Law Foundation who have supported many communities object to intensive livestock systems in their area 

Working together makes your voice stronger, and shows decision-makers that this issue matters to more than just one person. 

If you’re concerned about a factory farm in your area, don’t hesitate to contact your local councillor and your MP. They’re there to represent you. 

A quick email explaining your concerns can go a long way. Councillors are directly involved in planning decisions, and MPs can help raise the issue more widely. When elected representatives speak up, it adds pressure and visibility that decision makers can’t ignore. You don’t need to write anything complicated, just be clear about what’s being proposed, why it matters to you and what you’d like them to do.

Local media can be a powerful ally when you’re trying to stop a factory farm. A single news story can raise awareness, put pressure on the council and help you connect with other people who share your concerns. Start by reaching out to your local paper or radio station and let them know what’s being proposed and why it matters to your community. 

You don’t need to be an expert, just explain the situation clearly and offer to share your perspective. You can also suggest they speak to other local people affected, which can help turn it into a bigger story. The more attention an issue gets, the harder it is to ignore. 

We can support you by sharing your story, getting our supporters involved and trying to link you up with others doing similar work. 

Email us at office@four-paws.org.uk