Salmon farm to replace Trout farm?

Coldwater Salmon Ltd has applied to Wiltshire Council (ref. PL/2025/05927) for permission to erect a 3,240-square-metre steel and PVC canopy at Barford Fish Farm near Downton. Formerly run by Trafalgar Fisheries as a trout farm, the site is now being converted for salmon production. The canopy would cover several concrete ponds, providing protection from weather and contamination, and would carry solar panels to supply power. The company plans an initial annual output of 240 tonnes of salmon, sold directly to local consumers, with a reduced workforce and fewer lorry movements compared to previous operations.

Downton River Group has lodged an objection, stating that the canopy is the key enabling development for salmon farming and raises ecological concerns. These include nutrient pollution, risks to endangered wild Atlantic salmon, flood and climate impacts, and insufficient detail on drainage, abstraction, and discharges. The Group is calling for a full Habitats Regulation Assessment, Environment Agency review, and application of Biodiversity Net Gain requirements.