Judge Rules Green Gen Cymru Must Improve Landowner Notice for Pylon Access
Green Gen Cymru aims to construct three significant new electricity pylon routes totaling 200km across Wales.
A High Court ruling has determined that the company planning these routes must enhance communication with residents before accessing their land.
More than 500 landowners, represented by various groups, brought legal action against Green Gen Cymru, alleging that company agents had caused them to feel "frightened and intimidated" by arriving unannounced on their farms.
The judge criticised the company for insufficiently notifying landowners and for failing to adequately address the risk of transmitting livestock diseases between farms.
"We are committed to carrying out our work responsibly to deliver a secure and resilient energy network for Wales,"said Green Gen.
Legal representatives for the landowners stated they felt "vindicated" by the court's decision.
Green Gen Cymru, a subsidiary of Bute Energy, plans to build three major electricity pylon routes connecting proposed onshore wind farms in mid and west Wales to the broader grid network.
The proposed routes will impact areas in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, and Powys, with one route extending across the Welsh border into Shropshire.
Proponents argue that Wales' current electricity grid is inadequate, hindering renewable energy projects and the adoption of low-carbon technologies such as electric vehicles and heat pumps.
The company holds statutory powers to access land for this nationally significant energy infrastructure work.
However, Green Gen Cymru has faced disputes with hundreds of farmers and landowners who have accused its agents of heavy-handed conduct.
As a result of the court ruling, Green Gen Cymru must pay 60% of the claimants' legal costs, totaling £21,000, in addition to its own legal fees.
"Pylon plans could spark mass social unrest,"warned Plaid Cymru.
High Court Judgment Details
In a judgment issued on Monday, High Court Judge Mr Justice Kimblin found evidence that the company had, in some cases, served notices to access land without sufficient regard for proper notice requirements and reasonable entry times.
He described a notice served to the lead claimant, Natalie Barstow, as "unduly broad and lacking in particularity."
Nonetheless, the judge noted that no significant action was taken under that notice aside from a minor and inadvertent entry onto her land in July 2025, and he declined to quash the legal notices issued by the company for land access.
Mr Justice Kimblin emphasised that developers must provide proper notice to enter and survey private land, allowing landowners adequate time to prepare, and cannot rely on notices issued months or years earlier.
"This was taking all of the benefit of the access and taking none of the burden of properly thinking about what is reasonable in the circumstances,"he stated.
He further noted that Green Gen Cymru had failed to adequately address the risks of bovine tuberculosis transmission when entering private land, though the company was not found to have breached environmental law.
The judge acknowledged that the company had made improvements in response to landowners' concerns, including new policies on survey access, protection of species and habitats, and consideration for vulnerable individuals.
Training had been conducted to ensure consistent policy implementation, statutory notices were improved to provide clearer advance warnings, invitations for landowners to share site-specific issues, and directions to biosecurity guidance.
Lead Claimant Reacts to Outcome
Natalie Barstow, who operates a farm and campsite near Builth Wells, Powys, expressed relief and gratitude at the ruling.
"It's been quite an emotional situation as well, but we feel vindicated which is a good feeling for all of us and all of the rural communities that were involved in this case,"she said.
"We have important protections in place for us now and for the small communities that have privately funded this case, this is a huge moment and a good moment as well."
Barstow clarified that the legal challenge was not a protest against renewable energy and noted that the group had raised nearly £300,000 to fund the case.
"I never thought we could have raised that, it was really heartening that the judge ruled that Green Gen had to help towards our costs,"she added.
Legal Representatives and Company Response
Mary Smith of New South Law, representing the landowners, stated that her clients had been "vindicated" by the judgment.
"Your home is your sanctuary. That sanctuary has been disrupted over and over again by an energy company that has shown minimal regard for our clients' welfare, the impact on their businesses and family life, and the safety of their livestock,"Smith said.
"It should not have taken a high court case brought by a community group and charity on behalf of hundreds of landowners and occupiers to make sure developers comply with the law. Adequate regulation should be in place to govern energy company behaviour and to protect the public."
A spokesperson for Green Gen Cymru acknowledged the court's judgment, stating it provided a "clear basis for future conduct and engagement."
"As we have consistently said, our preference remains to work collaboratively with landowners and stakeholders, and we will continue to prioritise dialogue, cooperation and voluntary agreements wherever possible.
We are committed to carrying out our work responsibly, maintaining high standards of engagement, biosecurity and environmental care as we support the development of the infrastructure needed to deliver a secure and resilient energy network for Wales."
