Anger as mega island solar farm approved

A HUGE solar farm planned for Anglesey has been green-lighted in the face of ardent local opposition.

- Andrew Forgrave

The controversial Alaw Môn scheme was approved by planning watchdog PEDW even though it contravenes guidance on the preservation of high quality farmland.

Developer Wylfa Green Ltd, a subsidiary of Enso Energy, wants to construct a 650-acre solar farm capable of powering around 36,114 homes - more than the total number of houses on Anglesey. It is the smaller of two separate solar applications on the island that, if approved, will cover a combined 3,700 acres of mostly farmland, around 2% of Anglesey.

In the wake of PEDW’s decision, which has been agreed by the Welsh Government, a collective statement was released by Ynys Môn MP Llinos Medi, Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth and Anglesey Council leader Gary Pritchard. ‘They said they were “very disappointed” with the outcome, claiming there was a need to protect communities from “exploitation by commercial developers’

Inspectors at PEDW (Planning and Environment Decisions Wales) found Wylfa Green had failed to justify the reasons for building the solar park on farmland, 60% of which was classed as “Best and Most Versatile Agricultural Land” (BMVAL). This is defined as a “limited and valuable resource that should be safeguarded from development” except when there is an “overriding need for the development and no alternative sites” are available.