2401382MFF Carradale North_PPSL Supplementary Report 3
Argyll and Bute Council · 30 March 2026
Back to Planning, Protective Services and Licensing Committee — 30 March 2026 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Argyll and Bute Council Development and Economic Growth Delegated or Committee Planning Application Report and Report of handling as required by Schedule 2 of the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 2013 relative to applications for Planning Permission or Planning Permission in Principle _________________________________________________________________________ Reference No: 24/01382/MFF Applicant: Mowi Scotland Proposal: 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 79m east) and siting of existing feed barge in a different location Site Address: Carradale North Fish Farm, Kilbrannan Sound, Argyll and Bute SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT NO. 3 1. INTRODUCTION The purpose of this Supplementary Report 3 is to update elected members on details of further information submitted since the PPSL committee meeting and the publication of Supplementary Reports 1 and 2. This Supplementary Report will identify where matters have been adequately dealt with in the Report of Handling Committee Report and Supplementary Report 1 and 2; and clarify where new matters are raised and to detail any appropriate response to these matters, if required. 2. FURTHER SUPPORTING INFORMATION Further submissions received since the publication of Supplementary Report 2 dated 25.3.2026 are set out below. Please note all submitted supporting material can be viewed in full on the Council’s public access website. Key Tracked Vessels 23 Dec to 23 March 2026 submitted by Mowi (applicant) 25.3.2026 In advance of the planning hearing, Mowi have re-examined available AIS tracked vessel data for the preceding 3-month time period (23rd December 2025 to 23rd March 2026), as far as is publicly available. They have identified key vessels recorded within the near vicinity of the farm (>12 m), and these include the four vessels highlighted to us in the consultation process (MFVs Atlas, Radiant Morn, Jeniska and Rebekah Jayne) plus 3 others. Specific tracks and other vessel names have been redacted for data protection. As shown in the plot below, none of the vessel tracks passed within the proposed moorings boundary, with the closest being a single track at a distance of 60m from the furthest extent of the proposed moorings area. This vessel had departed Carradale Harbour and, due to the associated speeds recorded, is unlikely to be actively engaged in fishing (4.6-7kt). The closest track thought to be indicative of active fishing during this period (~2kt recorded speed) reaches a minimum distance of ~410m from the eastern extent of the proposed moorings, in the deep
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channel, where the vessel traffic is concentrated. Mowi site and vessel staff have also maintained a vessel log for the same time period, and have not recorded any fishing vessels within the proposed site extent, or neighbouring area. Annotated combined existing and proposed marine fish farm pens and moorings submitted by Mowi (applicant) 25.3.2026 The additional chart submitted below has been annotated to show more clearly the distances involved in the eastwards relocation of the proposed 160m pens when compared with the existing 120m pens for both Carradale North and Carradale South. For Carrdale North this will result in: • a shift to the east of 79m from the centre point of the existing site to the centre point of the proposed relocated site. • a shift to the east of 115m from the current mooring boundaries to the proposed relocated moorings boundaries. For Carrdale South this will result in: • a shift to the east of 99m from the centre point of the existing site to the centre point of the proposed relocated site. • a shift to the east of 175m from the current mooring boundaries to the proposed relocated moorings boundaries. It is noted that the moorings have been reduced on each of the eastwards corners to reduce any impact on navigation and facilitate access to boats wishing to utilise mobile gear nearer to the site. The seabed immediately adjacent to the east of the proposed pens is not suitable for trawling activity due to the seabed topography.
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3. POLICY ASSESSMENT The further supporting information received since the publication of Supplementary Report 2 does not raise any new material planning considerations over and above those fully assessed within the previous Report of Handling/Committee Report and Supplementary Reports 1 and 2. The updated vessel tracking data provides further reassurance that the impact on commercial fisheries has been adequately assessed and is acceptable in the context of the wider accessible fishing grounds in the Kilbrannan Sound. The Annotated chart of the existing and proposed marine fish farm pens and moorings extent provides further reassurance that any localised commercial fisheries impact on the available fishing grounds due to the proposed shift of the site eastwards into the channel will be minimal. This is particularly relevant given the seabed topography directly underneath the proposed moorings, which would not be suitable for trawling activity. As such, the proposal fully complies with Argyll and Bute Local Development Plan 2 Policy 28 - Supporting Sustainable Aquatic and Coastal Development and other relevant LDP2 policies. The proposal is considered to comply with the provisions of the National Planning Framework 4 Policy 32 – Aquaculture and is also in compliance with the relevant provisions of the National Marine Plan – specifically policies FISHERIES 2 and FISHERIES 3 of Chapter 6: Sea Fisheries. There is an existing operational fish farm in this location and the proposal represents a minor relocation of the site centre 79m to the east and a shift to the east of 115m from the current mooring boundaries to the proposed relocated moorings boundaries. The proposals are part of a wider modernisation plan that is beneficial in terms of fish health, operational efficiencies and health and safety of site workers, and which supports a key local employer and local,
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regional and national economic contributor. Therefore, officers consider there are insufficient grounds to recommend refusing the application. 4.0 RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that planning permission be approved subject to a pre-determination hearing and the planning conditions listed in Appendix C of Supplementary Report 2 (including revised condition 18). Author of Report: Shelley Gould Date: 26.3.2026 Reviewing Officer: Sandra Davies Date: 26.3.2026 Fergus Murray Head of Development and Economic Growth