Salmon farm plan facing animal rights challenge

The proposed facility would produce 5,000 tonnes of fish per year, according to developers

A council's decision to approve a £120m onshore salmon farm development is facing a legal challenge by an animal rights group.

Plans for the 10-acre (40,000 sq m) development in Cleethorpes were approved by North East Lincolnshire Council last November.

However, anti-cruelty charity Animal Equality said the decision to approve the plans was unlawful due to committee members being told they could not take animal welfare into account.

An initial hearing held at the High Court in Leeds last week granted permission for a judicial review, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

The proposed AquaCultured Seafood Ltd (ASL) facility would produce 5,000 tonnes of fish per year, the firm said.

An officers' report to councillors before approval found the scheme would not generate "any significant noise" and effluent from the site would be treated to a very high standard.

It would not cause harm to residential or business properties or the visual character of the area, the report added.

'Catastrophic and irreversible'

However, in a statement posted on its website, a spokesperson for Animal Equality said planning officers had misdirected their committee by ruling that animal welfare concerns could not be considered as "material factors".

"The highly likely catastrophic and irreversible animal welfare ramifications were not included within their decision-making process," they added.

Critics also previously raised concerns about the development's environmental impact, proximity to housing and the resort's beach.

However, some took to social media to criticise the legal challenge due to concerns about the loss of much-needed jobs in the area.

The developer previously said 100 jobs would be created at the site.

North East Lincolnshire Council said it was unable to comment due to it being a live legal matter.

The case is set to be heard at a later date yet to be confirmed.

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