Stop a factory farm FROM being built

1. Find your local council https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council/
2. Visit the council’s website and find the Planning Department’s email address 
3. Send in your polite email to the planning department. 
4. Use this sample wording to guide your message:
5. Can’t find your local council’s e-mail? We can help! Try: https://www.foi.directory/councils-city-borough-district-foi/ or e-mail us at [email protected]

If you would like to telephone your local council instead of, or as well as, writing please:

• Ask for the Planning Department
• Explain that you are a resident in the Council’s area
• That you are ringing about applications that relate to intensive animal farming and that you are deeply concerned about the prospect of new ones being built, given the immense suffering of animals on these farms
• Ask if they are aware of the landmark case that clearly shows that animal welfare can be considered a material planning consideration
• If they say no:
  
  • Briefly explain that Animal Equality took a historical judicial review and that the High Court judge ruled that planning committee members can treat animal welfare as a ‘material land use consideration’ during planning matters.
  • Explain that this has big implications: it means that planning decision makers who refuse to consider animal welfare issues are at serious risk of their decision being legally challenged via a judicial review.
  • You can offer to email links where they can read more (these links are https://ae.onl/court-ruling and https://animalequality.org.uk/news/2025/06/16/animal-equality-secures-landmark-legal-victory-for-animal-welfare-in-planning-law/)
  • If they say yes / or once you have explained the above:
  • Ask if they have made/ will now make everyone involved in planning decisions aware of this case and its significance

Thank them for their time!