HOUSEHOLDS in Pembrokeshire and other areas near new or upgraded electricity pylons are set to receive bill discounts of up to £2,500 over 10 years, as part of the government’s “Plan for Change.” This initiative, included in the upcoming Planning and Infrastructure Bill, ensures that communities benefit directly from hosting vital grid infrastructure—critical for the growing renewable energy sector in West Wales.

Under the new legislation, households within 500 metres of new or upgraded electricity transmission infrastructure will receive electricity bill discounts amounting to £250 per year. This will provide significant financial relief to rural communities while supporting the expansion of the national grid—particularly important for Pembrokeshire as it prepares to accommodate new offshore wind developments in the Celtic Sea.

In addition to bill discounts, new guidance will require developers to fund community projects such as sports clubs, educational programmes, and leisure facilities. The government has emphasized that communities hosting infrastructure should see direct benefits, which will also accelerate the transition to clean energy and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

Pembrokeshire’s role in clean energy

With major offshore wind farms planned for the Celtic Sea, Pembrokeshire is set to become a central hub for renewable energy, bringing investment and infrastructure upgrades. New transmission network developments will be essential to transport this clean energy across Wales and beyond. Community benefits will help ease local opposition and planning delays that have slowed previous projects.

Building new transmission infrastructure is vital for economic growth, unlocking £40 billion annually in private investment, creating jobs, and securing the UK’s energy future. This investment will also protect consumers from volatile fossil fuel prices, which caused energy bills to spike following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Government commitment to clean energy

Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner said: “We owe it to the people of this country to get Britain building again. This is not about whether we build the infrastructure we need, but how we do it in partnership with local communities.

“This government’s Planning and Infrastructure Bill will slash energy bills for people living near new projects, ensuring they benefit as we drive forward our mission for a more prosperous and energy-secure future.”

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband echoed this sentiment, stating: “The only way to make Britain energy secure and bring down bills for good is to end our reliance on fossil fuel markets and replace them with clean, homegrown power.

“As part of this effort, we are delivering on our commitment to ensure communities hosting new infrastructure receive meaningful benefits.”

Industry support

John Pettigrew, CEO of National Grid, welcomed the announcement, stating:

“It is right that communities see enduring, tangible benefits for hosting transmission infrastructure. We look forward to working with communities to deliver long-lasting and meaningful benefits alongside critical infrastructure.”

James Robottom, head of policy at RenewableUK, added: “We welcome the government’s latest steps to accelerate infrastructure development. Guaranteeing lower electricity bills for local communities is a positive step forward. By bringing communities on board, we can speed up the rollout of essential grid infrastructure and strengthen the UK’s energy security.”

Community investment funds for Pembrokeshire

The new guidance also establishes funding for communities hosting grid infrastructure. For every kilometre of overhead electricity cable, communities could receive £200,000 in funding, while substations could generate up to £530,000 in community investment. This means that areas in West Wales affected by new grid connections for offshore wind farms could see millions in funding for local projects.

Pembrokeshire is already seeing a transformation, with the proposed floating offshore wind farms in the Celtic Sea expected to generate thousands of jobs and significantly boost the local economy. Milford Haven, already a major energy port, is set to play a key role in the UK’s renewable energy future, with new grid connections ensuring that power from the Celtic Sea reaches homes and businesses efficiently.

The UK’s electricity grid, originally designed in the 1930s, requires significant upgrades to accommodate renewables. Expanding grid infrastructure will reduce constraint costs—where wind farms are paid to shut down due to a lack of capacity—ultimately lowering energy costs for consumers.

With these measures, Pembrokeshire communities closest to new energy infrastructure will benefit from both clean power and financial savings, reinforcing the region’s position as a leader in the UK’s green energy transition.

The upcoming Planning and Infrastructure Bill will introduce additional measures to accelerate the UK’s clean power transition, unblocking vital new energy infrastructure projects and ensuring that rural communities, including those in West Wales, benefit from the energy revolution.

THE WELSH economy showed signs of recovery in February, with business activity rising for the second consecutive month, according to the latest NatWest Wales Growth Tracker. However, challenges remain, as job losses continue, inflationary pressures persist, and new business orders decline.

Business activity expands, but demand falls

The Wales Business Activity Index, which measures monthly changes in the combined output of the region’s manufacturing and service sectors, increased to 51.5 in February, up from 50.7 in January. This marks the strongest growth in six months. However, despite this expansion, new business orders declined for the fourth month in a row, reflecting weak domestic demand and uncertainty surrounding government policies.

Job losses accelerate

While business output has increased, companies remain cautious about hiring. February saw the sixth consecutive month of job losses, with employment levels declining at a sharper rate than in January. The reductions were attributed to voluntary departures not being replaced, redundancies, and changes in labour policies. Despite this, the pace of job cuts in Wales was slower than in the UK as a whole.

Inflation pressures remain

Inflationary pressures persisted in February, with input costs rising at the fastest rate in ten months. Businesses reported higher labour costs and rising import prices as key drivers. In response, many firms increased their prices for goods and services, leading to the sharpest output price inflation in nearly a year. However, inflation levels remain below post-pandemic peaks and lower than the UK average.

Optimism for the year ahead

Despite the challenges, Welsh firms expressed the highest level of confidence in five months, expecting growth to continue over the next year. Business leaders are optimistic about expansion, citing strategic growth initiatives, productivity improvements, and new customer acquisitions.

While Wales’ economy is showing early signs of recovery, persistent job losses, sluggish demand, and inflation continue to pose risks. The coming months will be crucial in determining whether the region can sustain its growth momentum or if economic uncertainty will drag it down once again.

CARDIGAN Curiosities has won the St David’s Day shop window award for the Cardigan division, an accolade presented by Menter Iaith Ceredigion.

High Street businesses and Guildhall shops embraced the festivities, decorating their windows in a vibrant display to celebrate the national day of Wales and the arrival of spring. The event, which highlighted the Welsh language, saw enthusiastic participation from across Ceredigion.

To mark the occasion and show appreciation for the community, Cardigan Curiosities is offering the chance to win an exclusive piece of local artwork. The prize is a one-of-a-kind watercolour painting of the nave of St David’s Cathedral, created by a Pembrokeshire artist. The framed artwork measures 74×95 cm.

To enter the competition, participants must:

• Visit the Cardigan Curiosities Facebook or Instagram page
• Like the competition post
• Comment with their favourite Welsh word

The winner will be drawn on March 20 by “Ddraig Goch” from inside a dragon egg, with the announcement made that evening on social media.

For those interested in viewing the artwork or the decorated shop window, Cardigan Curiosities is located at 32A Cardigan High Street and is open Thursday to Sunday, from 10:00am to 5:00pm.