People living close to the site of a proposed factory farm near Sleaford that would house more than two million birds each year say it's "barbaric". An application has been submitted to North Kesteven District Council by Hinch Enterprises, which is requesting planning permission for a poultry farm.
This would involve six poultry houses being installed along with the associated infrastructure on the site at Newton Grange Farm in Newton. However, many residents object to these plans and are concerned about environmental issues, animal welfare, the impact it would have on climate change and the potential impact to public health.
A petition against the planning proposal was created by local residents Barbara and Steve Leaning, and it has already been signed by over half of the local parish members. Barbara said: "I think it's wrong and cruel to keep any living things, birds or animals shut up inside a shed, not being able to move around freely or even see sunlight.
"To be taken at one day old, put in with thousands of others, fattened up, then taken to the killing shed is barbaric. When l saw the planning application l decided to create a petition and the village was more than happy to sign."
Newton, Haceby and Walcot Parish Council has objected to the application, which was submitted in June 2025, but a decision will be ultimately be made by North Kesteven District Council. However, the district council has been asked by the parish to delay its planning decision to allow wider representation and consultation with the parishes bordered by the proposed application.
This includes the Threekingham, Osbournby and Folkingham parish councils. Special representation has also been sought from the Coalition Against Factory Farming regarding the situation. CAFF campaign coordinator, Bini Pitwell, stated: "We stand side-by-side with local residents in opposing this application.
"Lincolnshire already has more factory farms than anywhere else in the UK. Intensive poultry units such as this are dreadful for animal welfare, harm long-term food security and freshwater availability for future generations, contribute to the climate crisis, water pollution, and biodiversity loss, and damage wildlife habitats."
The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust has stated that it "strongly" objects to the planning application, due to the likely adverse impact it would have on nearby Great Crested Newt populations. There is a national and local conservation emphasis on this species.
Regarding the campaign against the plans, Ian Pick of Harrison Pick Ltd on behalf of Hinch Enterprises, stated: "We are aware that the planning application for a poultry unit at Newton Grange Farm, Newton, has attracted objections, many of which appear to be influenced by wider national campaigns against poultry farming, such as those led by CAFF (Coalition Against Factory Farming).
"It's important to note that these campaigns frequently oppose nearly all poultry farm applications across the UK, regardless of the individual merits of each proposal. The application at Newton Grange Farm is for a modern broiler chicken unit intended to supply UK supermarkets."
He continued: "The development is specifically designed to meet the requirements of the Better Chicken Commitment, which promotes higher animal welfare standards -- including lower stocking densities. The UK's major supermarkets have signed up to this commitment, which has resulted in a 20 per cent reduction in the number of birds that can be kept in existing facilities.
"To maintain national supply levels while improving animal welfare, new poultry farms that meet these standards are essential." He goes on to explain that the site at Newton Grange Farm is "exceptionally well suited" for such a development as it is approximately 1,000 metres from the nearest residential property, excluding the applicants.
The site also benefits from direct access onto the A15, which removes the need for traffic to pass through narrow rural roads. Mr Pick added: "In terms of environmental protection, the proposed development will be regulated by the Environment Agency under the Environmental Permitting regime, which imposes strict controls and monitoring.
"In addition, the site design incorporates renewable energy systems for both electricity generation and heating, helping to minimise carbon emissions. The poultry manure will be processed as a biomass fuel in off site power stations, contributing to the displacement of fossil fuels in power generation.
"Having worked on poultry farm planning applications for over 20 years, I can confidently say that Newton Grange Farm represents one of the strongest locations I've seen in terms of planning merit, environmental safeguarding, and animal welfare standards".