Sustain and Foodrise shortlisted for the SMK National Campaigner Awards 2026

Sustain is delighted to have been shortlisted for the SMK National Campaigner Awards 2026 in the Best Use of Law category.

Foodrise and Sustain worked closely alongside frontline communities including local resident Jan Palmer to successfully stop one of Europe’s largest proposed megafarms.

This was a landmark campaign. Working with the local community, we helped stop what would have been one of Europe's largest factory farms - a development that would have slaughtered over 714,000 chickens and 14,000 pigs a year. In April 2025, Kings Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council unanimously rejected the developer's planning application.

What made the win legally significant was that for the first time, the Supreme Court's 2024 Finch ruling - originally applied to fossil fuels - was used to establish that climate change is a valid reason for councils to refuse factory farm planning applications. That precedent is already being used to challenge other developments across the country.

At Sustain, the campaign was led by Ruth Westcott and Lily O'Mara - their tenacity, expertise and solidarity with residents made this possible.

Each year, the Sheila McKechnie Foundation (SMK) celebrates the best campaigns and campaigners. Their interest is in finding those who have made change happen – most effectively, creatively and courageously.

SMK says:

This year’s Awards celebrates a community of changemakers navigating one of the most challenging environments in recent memory – and doing so with ingenuity, courage, and a deep commitment to one another. This year we honour campaigners and changemakers who demonstrate that progress is not driven by lone heroes, but by collective effort, shared learning, and deep connection and most importantly teach us all a simple but radical truth: change is possible when we work together.

Ruth Westcott,  Campaign Manager at Sustain says: 

"Communities across the UK are showing that the law is on our side when it comes to stopping polluting, climate damaging and cruel factory farming. If you can help - please reach out. We have a huge opportunity and we need everyone."