Refused application for Craig Y Perthi Solar Farm - Other

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On April 11, 2024,  RWE Renewables UK applied to Newport City Council (Ref: DNS/3279787) under section 62D of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended by the Planning (Wales) Act 2015) to erect a solar farm and battery storage units, associated infrastructure, access, landscaping and grid connection. The solar farm, to be built on a site of approx. 240ha, would constitute a Development of National Significance  and generate capacity of up to 99.9 MW – enough to power around 45,374 typical Welsh homes and save around 3m tonnes of CO2 over the 40-year life of the development, compared with generation from fossil fuels. Part of the planned development area comprised a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) noted for its range of aquatic plants and invertebrates as well as providing breeding grounds for birds including Lapwing. The application also included proposals for ecological enhancements including bee hotels, reptile hibernacula, birdboxes and native species hedgerow / tree planting. 

On October 21, 2025, planning permission was refused. The Inspector charged with evaluating the application considered: “(a) the effect on ecology; (b) the effect on the landscape character and visual amenity of the area; (c) the effect on the setting of historic assets in the locality; and (d) whether any harm identified in relation to the foregoing considerations is outweighed by the benefits of the scheme, particularly its contribution to renewable energy generation and combating the effects of climate change.” The Inspector noted that Planning Policy Wales (PPW) (which refers to Section 6 of the Environment (Wales) Act 2016) advises that “planning authorities must seek to maintain and enhance biodiversity” including “not causing significant loss of habitats or populations of species and must provide a net biodiversity benefit and enable the improvement of the resilience of ecosystems by following the DECCA Framework ie taking into account the diversity, extent, condition, connections and adaptability of ecosystems.” PPW provides a “step-wise approach” to fulfilling this duty, adopting “a hierarchy which is to avoid, then minimise, mitigate/restore, compensate on site, compensate off-site and finally to refuse permission.” The Inspector found that “Development in a SSSI which is not necessary for the management of the site must be avoided”; and that the enhancement “does not offset or override the harm to a designated site or protected species that I cannot rule out on the basis of the evidence before me.” Accordingly, having balanced the benefits of the scheme, including the support to renewable energy which the solar farm could provide, against the harm “to landscape character and visual amenity, heritage assets and ecology / biodiversity”, the Inspector recommended that the planning application be refused.

Refused application for Craig Y Perthi Solar Farm

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An aim to achieve a quantifiable outcome within a given time-frame, set by an institution such as a national government.

Policy instruments are techniques or tools used by governing authorities to promote certain policies in order to achieve predetermined goals. Put simply, instruments are how a government tries to achieve its goals, with this taxonomy being focused on national policy instruments.

Risk is the potential for adverse consequences resulting from the dynamic interplay between (climate-related) hazards, exposure, and vulnerability of affected human or ecological systems.

Groups  of people who are adversely affected by climate change or the response to it

A set of principles, processes, and practices that build economic and political power to shift from an extractive economy to a regenerative economy.

Renewable energy means all forms of energy produced from renewable sources in a sustainable manner.

Fossil fuel is a generic term for non-renewable energy sources such as coal, fossil gas, and oil (including crude oil, and petroleum products), that can be used for electricity and heat generation. Fossil fuels are hydrocarbons formed from pressurised and heated organic material buried over millions of years.

Molecules in the atmosphere that play a key role in the greenhouse effect by trapping heat radiating from Earth’s surface.

Area of the economy in which actors engage in identical or related activities.

In human systems, the process of adjustment to actual or expected climate change and its effects, in order to moderate harm, increase resilience or exploit beneficial opportunities. In natural systems, the process of adjustment to actual climate change and its effects; human intervention may facilitate adjustment to expected climate change and its effects.

The management and allocation of funds, assets and investments to meet various objectives

This sector involves the wholesale and retail selling of goods.

A long-lived, colourless gas, chiefly emitted from fossil fuel combustion, deforestation and cement production.

Terrestrial means "of the earth" and relates to the risks to ecological system that includes all living organisms and their interactions within land-based environments, such as forests, grasslands, and deserts.

Actions or measures to adapt terrestrial systems to climate change.

This sector includes firms and individuals offering specialised expertise in fields such as law, accounting, consulting, science and engineering.

Actions to adapt human health, healthcare systems and well-being to climate change.

The activities of industries involved in the production, distribution, and sale of energy, including electricity, gas, and renewables.

Air pollution involves harmful contaminants in the air, affecting both indoor and outdoor environments. It can lead to health issues like respiratory diseases and heart problems, and climate impacts such as global warming. Pollutants can damage plants, trees, habitats, and water bodies like rivers and lakes.

This sector creates and distributes information and entertainment through television, radio, print, and digital platforms.

Activities that relate to the production of goods and services from forests.

Actions or measures to adapt freshwater systems to climate change.

Actions to adapt and increase the resilience of rural and urban infrastructure and settlements to climate change.

Any substance with chemical properties that can cause physical harm to people or damage the environment, including ammonia, carbon monoxide, phosphine, chlorine, arsenic, cadmium, mercury, pesticides, dioxins, microplastics, benzene, asbestos, aflatoxins, fluoride, methanol, and toxins from marine sources.

Slow onset events evolve gradually from incremental changes over many years or from increased frequency or intensity of recurring events. As defined in the Cancun Adaptation Framework (2010), slow onset events include risks and impacts from rising temperatures, desertification, biodiversity loss, land and forest degradation, glacial retreat, ocean acidification, sea level rise, and salinization.

Climate change can have a range of impacts on technological system. Extreme weather events can cause infrastructure failures like power outages or damage to roads and bridges, as well as the impacts from waste following natural disasters. Human activities also cause technological impacts, such as the risks posed by oil spillage and leaks.

Activities that involve the cultivation of crops and raising of livestock for food, fibre, and other products essential for human life and industry.

Coal is a combustible sedimentary rock formed from carbonised plant matter, rich in carbon and hydrocarbons, and occurring in several main types including hard coal and brown coal.

Either money or something of monetary value is transferred between two or more organisations, people or countries.

Electrical energy generated from mechanical devices driven by flowing fresh water.

Production of electricity and heat from solar irradiation.

Activities that involve planning, designing and building infrastructure, residential, and commercial structures.

Kinetic energy of airflow transformed into useful energy, mostly electrical energy.

This sector involves the distribution, treatment, and conservation of water resources.

Climate change impacts our society by disrupting the natural, economic and social systems we depend on. Physical hazards and underlying vulnerabilities can lead to increased resource competition for food and water, which can heighten the risk of conflict.

A loan is a policy instrument where funds are provided to a borrower with the expectation of repaying the principal plus interest.

Actions or measures to adapt freshwater, coastal and marine systems to climate change.

Zoning and spatial planning are both methods for guiding the distribution of people and activities in a space, and are regulatory restriction.

Activities of government agencies and institutions that provide public services, enforce laws and manage public resources.

This sector involves activities to move goods and people, alongside the storage of products.

Extreme weather refers to events where a weather variable exceeds (or falls below) a threshold. Meaning it is significantly different from the average or usual weather pattern.

Refused application for Craig Y Perthi Solar Farm - Other

Target

Policy instrument

Risk

Impacted group

Renewable energy

Fossil fuel

Greenhouse gas

Economic sector

Adaptation/resilience

Finance