Judicial review over rural Wales pylons scheme to be heard in High Court

Campaign group ‘Justice for Wales’ - a community of farmers, residents and small business owners – argues that Green GEN has:

• Acted beyond its lawful powers as an acquiring authority by seeking to enter private land without proper consent or notice under the Housing and Planning Act 2016.
• Failed to meet its duties to protect human rights, biosecurity and the environment.
• Created a “climate of intimidation and fear” through its approach to landowners and residents.

On its Crowd Justice page, the campaign group claimed that in its pursuit of rapid approval and rapid process, GreenGEN “has eroded trust, safety, and confidence in the very idea of a fair transition”.

On 20 January, permission was granted by the High Court for the case to move forward to a full judicial review hearing.

According to Green GEN Cymru, the judge however refused to grant permission for the judicial review on the data protection arguments put forward.

A spokesperson for Green GEN Cymru said: “We will respond through the appropriate legal process and will not be commenting further at this stage.

“In the meantime, undertaking routine pre‑application environmental and ecological surveys is essential to ensure the potential impacts of our projects are fully understood by the business, planning inspectors, and the communities hosting this infrastructure.”

The spokesperson added: “We have always sought to reach amicable access agreements with landowners and to engage extensively with local communities, ensuring all works are conducted with consideration and respect for local people and the environment.

“Developing this vital infrastructure is critical to meeting the challenges of our energy future and to building a robust, reliable energy network which enables people across Wales to benefit from a more secure energy future. We hope to resolve the outstanding matters soon and continue our vital work.”

Lottie Winson