Barney McCay successful in River Action challenge to 200,000-bird intensive poultry unit

The High Court has handed down judgment in R (Caffyn) v Shropshire Council [2025] EWHC 1497 (Admin), which concerned a claim for judicial review of a decision to grant permission for a 200,000-bird intensive poultry unit in the River Severn catchment.

The Claimant argued, amongst other things, that the Council failed lawfully to assess the effects of the spreading of manure (arising from the unit) in digestate form on third party land. The Claimant also argued that the Council did not carry out a lawful Habitats Regulations assessment, since it failed to assess the full in-combination effects of the unit before granting permission. Fordham J granted the Claimant’s application for judicial review on both of these grounds and quashed the permission.

The proceedings have been covered widely in the press, for example by the BBC, The Guardian and ITV. River Action’s press release, which considers the wider implications of the judgment, can be viewed here. A copy of the judgment can be accessed here.

Barney McCay was part of the counsel team that acted for the successful claimant, Alison Caffyn (a River Action board member). He was instructed by Leigh Day.