Plan to create salt marshes near River Severn paused

Hinkley Point C's first unit is expected to be operational in 2029

A plan to create salt marshes along the River Severn have been paused after concerns from local community groups.

The power company EDF, which is building Hinkley Point C, had proposed to create 340 hectares of new salt marsh habitat along the River Severn at Kingston Seymour, Arlingham, Littleton and Rodley.

EDF said it would have compensated for the 44 tonnes of fish expected to be sucked into the power plant's cooling system each year.

The company said it has now found an acoustic fish deterrent that is workable.

There has been strong opposition to the salt marsh plans by EDF

The planning permission for Hinkley Point C had originally included loudspeakers close to the water intakes on the seafloor to scare off fish.

However, the energy company had said the acoustic fish deterrent presented safety issues due to fast flowing tides in the Severn and poor visibility for divers.

In a letter addressed to local residents on 28 February, the company said that it had listened to community feedback and decided that the acoustic fish deterrent would be the preferred option above creating a new salt marsh.

EDF said that it had been recently made aware of innovation that means a new type of acoustic fish deterrent system could be installed and operated in a way that is likely to be safe and effective in the waters of the Severn.

Andrew Cockcroft from EDF said: "The innovation allows us to go forward and fit an acoustic deterrent system in those really hostile waters of the Severn without putting the safety of divers at risk in the process."

The company said it will work with experts throughout 2025 to provide the scientific data to underpin the case for using it at Hinkley Point C.

However, until the scientific work on the acoustic fish deterrent is complete, EDF said it will not be able to rule out the need for salt marsh creation in the future.