Fromebridge Fish Pass Retrofit

At Fromebridge Mill on the River Frome near Stroud, a pioneering fish pass has been upgraded to improve its performance and restore the natural movement of fish through the river. The work was funded by the Environment Agency through the Water Environment Improvement Fund and forms part of the Severn Vale Catchment Partnership Wilder Frome Flagship Project.

A first of its kind in the UK

When the brush-type fish pass was installed in 2021, it was the first of its kind in the UK. Fromebridge had long been one of the most significant barriers to migratory fish in the Frome. The pass offered a way for fish to move upstream and downstream to reach the habitats they need for spawning, feeding and foraging.

Monitoring by the Environment Agency showed that while the design worked it needed some alterations to create optimum conditions. With funding secured Severn Rivers Trust worked with specialist designers Fishtek and contractor Baileys to deliver the retrofit.

What we built

• Adjustments to the brush pass design to improve flow and fish movement

• Structural changes guided by monitoring results from the first installation

• Underwater cameras installed to monitor fish use after the retrofit

• Construction completed in June 2025

Why it matters

The retrofit has improved fish passage past one of the Frome’s most significant barriers and reconnected 4.5 km of the river. This allows species such as salmon trout and the critically endangered European eel to access the habitats they need to thrive.

By enabling free movement of fish the pass supports the wider health of the catchment and contributes to the recovery of migratory species from the Severn Estuary into the Frome.

Looking ahead

Now that the retrofit is complete we will monitor the pass with underwater cameras to track how fish respond to the improvements. Sharing this footage will help demonstrate how innovation can unlock more of our rivers for wildlife.

The lessons learned at Fromebridge will provide evidence to support more fish passage schemes across the Severn catchment. This project shows how innovation and collaboration can create lasting benefits for people and nature.