Judge rules against Green Gen's land access

A recent High Court ruling has mandated that Green Gen Cymru must enhance its communication with residents before accessing private land for its major pylon routes. Groups representing over 500 landowners took the company to court, alleging that agents caused fear and intimidation by appearing on their farms without sufficient warning. The judge highlighted the company's insufficient notice procedures and its failure to adequately address the risk of spreading livestock diseases between farms.

Green Gen Cymru, owned by Bute Energy, proposes building three significant electricity pylon routes to connect proposed onshore wind farms in mid and west Wales to the national grid. These plans affect areas in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, and Powys, with one route extending into Shropshire. Despite the company possessing statutory powers for land access due to the project's status as nationally significant energy infrastructure, it faced accusations of heavy-handed tactics from landowners.

The court ordered Green Gen Cymru to cover 60% of the claimants' legal expenses, amounting to £21,000, in addition to its own legal fees. The judge indicated that developers must provide proper notice, allowing landowners time to prepare, and cannot rely on outdated notices. While the company was found not to have breached environmental law, improvements in its policies regarding access, protected species, and vulnerable individuals were noted.

Landowners' representatives stated they were vindicated by the ruling, emphasizing that the challenge was not against renewable energy but for the protection of rural communities and their welfare. The case is anticipated to have broader implications for how infrastructure developers interact with affected communities in the future, underscoring the need for adequate regulation to protect the public.