Grange Farm

Sample Objection

To: Dev.control@e-lindsey.gov.uk

Subject: Objection 02241/25/FUL

Dear Planning Committee, 

I strongly object to the intensive poultry unit application 02241/25/FUL to keep 180,000 birds at Grange Farm, Fenside Road, Toynton St Peter, Lincolnshire, PE23 5DD. The air pollution and odours caused by this factory farm, the lorries, and the spreading of muck on other fields, raise serious public health concerns, and risk damage to wildlife and the environment.

The roads will be damaged by lorries leading to rising costs for taxpayers. I am concerned about safety for pedestrians and road users with the increase of HGVs.

The bird flu epidemic gets worse every year. Wild birds and backyard chickens should also be protected from bird flu and this intensive poultry unit will put their health at risk. Scientists also warn that bird flu from intensive poultry farms could lead to the next pandemic, a very serious public health and economic risk. 

In addition to public health concerns about air pollution, odours, and bird flu risks, I am troubled by the contribution of factory farming to antibiotic resistance. Over 2000 people die a year from antibiotic resistant infections, according to the UK Health Security Agency.

The rise of factory farms is holding back housebuilding, because new homes cannot be built where the water is already so polluted from the increase in factory farms and all the muck they produce.

The country is facing drought, and we need to conserve water for future generations. I am concerned about the impacts of water abstraction from this farm as well as from growing animal feed for these animals. Water abstraction can have a negative impact on protected designated habitats sights. The negative impacts of water abstraction must be assessed.

The impacts of the spreading on 3rd party fields of chicken manure or digestate produced from this farm must be assessed, following the cases of Squire v Shropshire Council [2019] EWCA Civ 888, NFU v Herefordshire Council [2025] EWHC 536, and Caffyn v Shropshire Council [2025] EWHC 1497. Impacts may include dust, odours, and ammonia emissions, which could impact designated protected sites, wildlife, rivers, and people. Additionally, the environmental impact assessment should consider all of the other existing intensive animal agriculture units in the river catchment and the combined impact on the water environment of so many factory farms.

 I am concerned about the contribution of this poultry unit to climate change. The planning committee should require a greenhouse gas emissions assessment, following the case of Finch v Surrey County Council [2024] UKSC 20. The Climate Change Committee has called for a 25% reduction in meat consumption by 2040, and this facility will serve to increase the number of broiler chickens in the supply chain; instead, we need to reduce livestock numbers. Furthermore, feed for animals is linked to deforestation; this should also be assessed as part of the environmental impact.

Finally, I am deeply concerned about animal welfare, which is a material planning consideration, following the case of Animal Equality v NE Lincolnshire Borough Council [2025] EWHC 1331. The fast growing chickens on these farms suffer terribly due to their genetics. And they never see the light of day. Factory farming is inherently cruel and cannot meet the welfare needs of birds.

For all these reasons I object to this factory farm.

Kind regards,

[Your Name and Address]