Campaigners escalate fight against Cleethorpes salmon farm.
Animal rights campaigners have pledged to continue opposing plans for a £120 million land-based salmon farm in Cleethorpes, despite a High Court ruling upholding its planning approval.
The facility, proposed by Aquacultured Seafood, is set to be built on a 10-acre site at New Clee and is designed to produce 5,000 tonnes of salmon annually. It is expected to create over 300 jobs, with 100 permanent roles, according to North East Lincolnshire Council.
The project was initially approved by councillors in November 2023, but construction was delayed after a judicial review was granted last autumn. The legal challenge, brought by Animal Equality UK, argued that animal welfare concerns had not been properly considered during the planning process.
In her ruling, Deputy High Court Judge Karen Ridge upheld the council’s decision but noted that animal welfare may be considered a material planning factor in future cases.
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Following the judgment, Abigail Penny, executive director of Animal Equality UK, said the organisation had been campaigning against the farm for two years and would continue its opposition.
“This is nothing but a corporate land grab and we won’t stand for it,” she said. “We will fight until the bitter end.”
Barrister Alex Shattock, representing the group, said the case marked the first time animal welfare considerations had been addressed in this context within UK planning law.
Aquacultured Seafood director Mark Berthet welcomed the decision, noting the historical role of fishing in the region. “Providing not only income, but a sense of pride and community, and we intend to ensure that it continues,” he said.
Council leader Philip Jackson said the project represented “a great opportunity in innovative methods of sustainable salmon farming” and would bring economic investment and long-term employment to the area.
The site, located near Alexandra Docks, is expected to be the UK’s first large-scale onshore salmon farm.