A prospective egg producer was denied permission to establish a free-range egg production unit near North Allerton, Yorkshire England.  The project would have required erection of three 30,000 square foot buildings with a total of 190,000 hens housed.  The project would have been sited on 237 acres of arable farmland converted to pasture.  The farm was opposed by residents who gathered 13,000 signatures on a petition that influenced the Hambleton District Council to reject the application.  Among issues of concern was the proximity to the North York Moors National Park. This is an evident case of “Not In My Backyard” (NIMBY) and the opposition to new farms will become more evident in all industrialized nations.

A number of producers have applied for permission to establish or expand free-range production in the U.K. following the conversion from colony cages requiring alternative housing for 13 million hens.