Six larger fish-farm pens at Carradale South Fish Farm, Carradale
Summary of planning committee decision
Decided by Argyll Planning, Protective Services and Licensing Committee on 30 Mar 2026.
What was proposed
The application proposed replacing ten 120-metre pens with six 160-metre pens, relocating the site centre 99 metres east and repositioning the feed barge.
“Reference No: 24/01381/MFF Planning Hierarchy: Local Application Applicant: [the applicant]: Replace existing 10 x 120m circumference pens with 6 x 160m circumference pens (with a parallel minor relocation into deeper water moving the Carradale South site centre 99m east) and siting of existing feed barge in a different location Site Address: Carradale South Fish Farm, Kilbrannan Sound, Argyll and Bute…”
“(i) Development Requiring Express Planning Permission • Modification of existing pens 10 x 120m circumference to 6 pens 8 x 160m circumference pens in a 120 m x 120 m mooring grid matrix, held in two linear rows of 4 pens; • Installation of pole mounted top nets; • Minor relocation of the existing and installed 600 tonne feed barge…”
Officer report
The site and its setting
The existing marine fish farm lies about 1.8 kilometres north of Carradale village on the western edge of Kilbrannan Sound.
“This application is for a change of equipment and minor relocation of an existing marine fish farm in the Kilbrannan Sound approximately 400m off the eastern shore of the Kintyre Penninsula. The proposal would replace the existing 10no 120m…”
“The proposed development is located approximately 1.8 km north of Carradale village on the western edge of Kilbrannan Sound and east of the Kintyre peninsula. The smaller hamlet of Grogport lies approximately 2.6 km north west of the Site.”
Officer report
Earlier permissions
The fish farm was approved in 2009, later altered and re-equipped, and received a negative screening opinion for the proposed reconfiguration in 2024.
“09/00905/MFF Formation of new 14 cage fish farm including foodstore/service pontoon. (Approved 11.11.2009)”
“23/00262/SCREEN SOUTH Screening Opinion for reconfiguration of infrastructure from 10 x 120m circumference cages to 6 x 160m circumference cages with a parallel minor relocation into deeper water (Negative Screening Opinion issued 6.4.2024)”
Officer report
What officers recommended
Officers recommended approval because the proposal complied with the development plan and no sufficiently significant material consideration justified withholding permission.
“The proposal would accord with Development Plan policy and accordingly, it is recommended that planning permission be approved subject to conditions…”
“The proposal is considered to be consistent with the relevant provisions of the Development Plan, and there are no other material considerations of sufficient significance to indicate that it would be appropriate to withhold planning permission having regard to s25 of the Act.”
Officer report
The vote
A motion to approve was challenged by an amendment to refuse because existing commercial fishing opportunities were considered insufficiently safeguarded.
“That the Committee support the application as per the recommendation of officers.”
“From the concerns raised by the Clyde Fishermen’s association I am of the view that existing commercial fishing opportunities have not been sufficiently safeguarded and this application should be refused as the increase in the total area of the development, encroaches into a valuable creel and commercial fishing area which will result in an unacceptable exclusion of commercial fishing activity from this important fishing ground which will result in a significant direct…”
Minutes
The decision
The committee carried the refusal amendment by six votes to three and refused the application.
“As the meeting was being held on a hybrid basis, the vote required to be taken by calling the roll and members voted as follows:”
“The Amendment was carried by 6 votes to 3 and the Committee resolved accordingly.”
Minutes
The members' reasons
The members' reasons are quoted from the minutes above, under “The vote”.
Sources
- Argyll Planning, Protective Services and Licensing Committee minutes, 30 March 2026
- Agenda and papers (council website)
Source: Plota analysis of Argyll's committee minutes and officer report. Quotations are the council's own words; headings and summaries are Plota's.
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See the API →At the meeting
- Council
- Argyll
- Date
- Monday 30 March 2026
- Recommendation
- Officers recommended approval
- Committee decided
- Refused, against officer advice
- Vote
- 6 for refusal, 3 against
- Minutes
- The council's minutes
- Meeting
- Agenda and papers (council website)
- Application
- The application (council website)
- All decisions
- Argyll committee decisions →
Source: Plota analysis of the minutes.
This committee's year
12 decisions in the 12 months to this meeting, 1 against officer advice.
Source: Plota analysis of the committee's minutes.