Business

Wales warned it could miss out again on nuclear jobs boom

Published

5 months ago

October 24, 2025

Commons Committee tells UK ministers to confirm Wylfa plans and fix broken planning system

THE UK GOVERNMENT has been warned that years of drift and delay could see Wales miss out once again on a major jobs and investment boom in nuclear power, after MPs said there is still “no clear plan” for the future of the Wylfa site on Anglesey.

In a major report published on Friday (Oct 24), the House of Commons Energy Security and Net Zero Committeecalled for a “one-stop shop” to cut through red tape and end the costly gridlock slowing Britain’s low-carbon energy ambitions.
The Committee said that Great British Energy–Nuclear (GBE-N) — the government-owned developer now responsible for new nuclear projects — must confirm its plans for Wylfa and Oldbury-on-Severn “without further delay”.

Wales’s flagship site ‘stuck in limbo’

The cross-party report, led by Labour MP Bill Esterson, describes Wylfa as a “flagship site” for the UK’s clean energy future, but warns that confusion over planning rules, duplication between regulators, and lack of ministerial direction are deterring private investment.

“The draft EN-7 makes a strong case for new nuclear,” Mr Esterson said. “But GB Energy-Nuclear needs to make clear their plans for flagship sites at Oldbury and Wylfa. These sites have the potential to truly accelerate new nuclear in the UK.”

The Committee said government policy remains “fragmented and contradictory” — with ministers claiming to favour a market-led approach, yet unable to provide the strategic guidance and guarantees developers need to build gigawatt-scale reactors.
It urged the Government to set out a detailed plan of what type of nuclear technology it wants deployed, where, and when — and to publish deployment timelines for Wylfa before the end of the year.

A missed opportunity for Wales?

The warning will strike a familiar chord in North Wales.
In 2020, Japanese firm Hitachi pulled out of plans to build a new power station at Wylfa Newydd, leaving hundreds of skilled workers without jobs and the island’s economy reeling.

Anglesey had hoped to see thousands of construction and supply chain roles over the coming decade. Instead, the site has remained dormant — a fenced-off monument to Britain’s uncertain energy policy.

Local leaders say another delay would be disastrous. Rhun ap Iorwerth MS, the Plaid Cymru leader and Member for Ynys Môn, said earlier this year that “Wylfa can be a key part of Wales’s net zero future — but it must be delivered with long-term jobs for local people, not promises that never materialise.”

Calls for a ‘one-stop shop’ for nuclear projects

At the heart of the MPs’ report is a damning assessment of the UK’s regulatory system.
Developers currently face multiple overlapping reviews from planning authorities, environmental regulators and the Office for Nuclear Regulation, with each process adding new costs, delays and risk of legal challenge.

The Committee says this “fragmented and duplicated” framework is stifling progress and discouraging the kind of fleet-based approach that could deliver reactors faster and cheaper.
It recommends creating a single “one-stop shop” regulator for nuclear power — bringing planning, safety and environmental decisions under one umbrella while maintaining high standards.

Without that reform, MPs warn, the new national planning framework (known as EN-7) will “fail to deliver the joined-up approach” the nuclear industry needs.

Local rewards must be clear

The Committee also said developers must do more to prove that host communities will share the rewards of new projects.

Large power stations such as Wylfa could transform regional economies by providing hundreds of high-skill, long-term jobs. But smaller modular reactors — which require fewer on-site workers — may offer less visible benefits to local people.

The report calls on the Government to expand its guidance on how developers can deliver lasting value to host communities, suggesting measures such as full business-rate retention for councils, infrastructure investment in local roads and rail, and binding local employment quotas similar to those agreed at Sizewell C in Suffolk.

Unite Wales regional secretary Peter Hughes said: “Wales has the skills and the workforce ready to build the next generation of power stations. But we need certainty — not more years of indecision. A clear plan for Wylfa would mean good union jobs for Welsh workers and contracts for local firms.”

Pembrokeshire’s place in the energy mi

While the focus of the Committee’s report is on North Wales, its findings carry wider significance for West Wales. Pembrokeshire already plays a leading role in the UK’s low-carbon transition — from the Dragon LNG terminal and South Hook to the planned Celtic Sea floating wind projects and the emerging Hydrogen Hub at Milford Haven.

Experts say a revived nuclear sector could complement these efforts by providing stable “baseload” power when renewables are offline.

Energy consultant Dr Gareth Davies, who advises Marine Energy Wales, told The Herald: “Wales can lead the UK in clean energy if we get the balance right — nuclear for consistency, renewables for innovation. But government indecision risks us falling behind.”

Outdated population rules ‘a brake on progress’

MPs also took aim at an obscure planning rule known as the Semi-Urban Population Density Criterion, which bans new reactors within a set radius of built-up areas.
Originally drawn up in the 1960s to protect against accidents at early-generation reactors, the formula is now seen as outdated and opaque.

The Committee said the rule has become a “de facto brake” on new development — preventing expansion at existing sites such as Heysham and Hartlepool — and called on ministers to publish a modern, transparent map of eligible areas across England and Wales.

They recommended that the Office for Nuclear Regulation be asked to devise a new, risk-based approach that reflects advances in reactor safety, including smaller modular designs.

Jobs, pride and opportunity

For people living around Cemaes Bay, the Wylfa site still looms large — both physically and emotionally.
The original Wylfa A station, which closed in 2015, was one of Wales’s largest employers, providing steady work for generations of families.

“It’s heartbreaking to see it empty,” said one former maintenance engineer, who asked not to be named. “We were told a new plant was coming, and then nothing. Young people have moved away because there’s no future here. If they mean to rebuild it, they need to get on with it.”

With construction of Sizewell C in Suffolk now under way, industry observers fear that Wales could once again be left on the sidelines — despite possessing one of the best-suited nuclear sites in Europe.

A crossroads for Welsh energy

The report underlines a broader question about Wales’s role in the UK’s energy system.
Wales already exports more electricity than it consumes, yet critics say local communities rarely see the financial return.

Professor Calvin Jones of Cardiff Business School has argued that major projects “too often generate income for London but little benefit for Wales.”
That tension is reflected in the Committee’s call for a fairer deal — one that ensures business rates, infrastructure funding and supply-chain contracts stay in the regions that host the power.

As one industry source told The Herald: “If Westminster gets this wrong, we won’t just lose Wylfa. We’ll lose the chance for Wales to lead the next generation of clean energy.”

Business

Haverfordwest Halifax bank nail bar scheme refused

Published

1 hour ago

March 17, 2026

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A CALL to convert a Pembrokeshire town centre former bank to a nail bar has been refused by county planners.

Huw Tuyen Nguyen, through agent Hayston Developments & Planning Ltd, sought permission for a change of use of the former Halifax bank at Grade-II-listed 10 Victoria Place, in Haverfordwest’s conservation area, to a nail bar, along with a related listed building consent.

Halifax closed its Haverfordwest branch back in 2024, leaving it with no more branches in the county.

A supporting statement accompanying the nail bar application at the three-storey building said: “The previous use of the building, a bank operated by the Halifax, ceased a few years ago and remains vacant making no contribution to the vitality or viability of the town centre.

“This application seeks to put the ground floor to an alternative commercial/retail use and which together with some internal and external alterations, also seeks to convert the upper two floors into a single high-quality flat. The upper floors have largely been under-utilised in the past. As such, the proposal would make a positive contribution to the town centre.”

It went on to say of the change of use to a nail bar: “This part of the application would allow the relocation and expansion of a professional service facility to serve Haverfordwest and the surrounding areas. This forms the basis of aspirations to grow the business, both in the immediate short term, and in the future as the business continues to grow.

“The applicant has explained that the current business is a nail salon which has been trading for some 15 years but under a different management. The applicant has had the business since January 2022.

“The business hours would be 9 am to 6 pm Monday to Saturday but closed on Sundays and which would employ 2/3 people.”

The application was refused on the grounds “the proposed external alterations, by virtue of the chosen materials, finish and detailing, represent poor design that fails to respect the historic character of the listed building and the wider terrace”.

The refusal went on to say: “The works do not respond appropriately to the building’s significance and would result in a harmful intervention that undermines its special architectural and historic interest.

“Furthermore, the proposal fails to satisfy the statutory duty to preserve or enhance the character and appearance of the Haverfordwest Conservation Area, and to pay special regard to the desirability of preserving the listed building and its features of architectural and historic interest.”

Business

£1m loan for Haverfordwest Wilko redevelopment backed

Published

1 hour ago

March 17, 2026

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A CALL for Pembrokeshire’s council to pursue a £1m loan to help fund the redevelopment of the ‘blight’ derelict former Wilko store in Haverfordwest as part of wider redevelopment of the county town has been backed.

A report for members of the March 16 meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet, recommended for approval by Leader Cllr Jon Harvey, said: “The proposed project seeks to repurpose and redevelop the former Wilko building located on [2-6] Old Bridge, Haverfordwest, a large and prominently positioned commercial unit.

“The project will enable the revitalisation of one of Haverfordwest’s most strategically positioned commercial units located immediately adjacent to the new Haverfordwest Public Transport Interchange, on the main pedestrian route from the Interchange to the town centre.

“Pembrokeshire County Council, under Cabinet decision November 30, 2020, agreed the acquisition of Riverside Shopping Centre in Haverfordwest which includes the 2–6 Old Bridge and the Perrots Road Car Park.

“At the time of acquisition, the building was leased by Wilko, with this occupation ceasing when Wilko went into administration and the Haverfordwest store closed in September 2023.”

It added: “The building was in poor repair when returned from the outgoing tenant with limited ability to seek dilapidation costs as the tenant had gone into administration. The deteriorating roof and outdated internal configuration render it unsuitable for modern retail, commercial, or community use without significant investment.”

It went on to say: “The building’s current dereliction contributes to a blight at a key town access point. Funding would directly address these structural issues, unlocking the property’s potential and generating broader regeneration benefits for the town. High street anchor tenants attract significant footfall, with evidence showing that the majority of visitors subsequently engage with other shops.

“The preferred strategy is to secure such a tenant, creating a strong draw to the town centre and complementing surrounding uses. Even if a high street anchor is not achievable, there is credible interest in alternative commercial or community uses.”

It said an initial scoping stage “has identified a budget of circa £1.6m to undertake the required redevelopment works,” adding that the empty unit is currently costing the authority £125,000 a year annum in Business Rates, insurance and maintenance, along with a lost rental income of £150,000.

It said the council’s approved capital programme currently has £656,000 for the Riverside Phase 1/Eastern Quayside, and it was proposed that these funds are utilised, alongside an additional £1m funding source for 2-6 Old Bridge.

Cabinet Member for Young Persons, Community, Wellbeing and Future Generations Cllr Marc Tierney said: “The regeneration case on this particular property is really strong; if we don’t do anything the risk is we’re just holding on to another vacant property in Haverfordwest.”

Cabinet Member for Housing Cllr Michelle Bateman said the proposal was part of “a bigger picture” of regeneration in the town, with Cabinet member for finance Cllr Alistair Cameron pointing out the loan, if approved, would be “interest-free” to the council.

Council Leader Cllr Jon Harvey (Image: Pembropkeshire County Council webcast)

Cllr Harvey said: “I think we just have to do this, if we don’t we won’t get a major retailer in; this will really increase the retail offer in Haverfordwest , we’re spending a lot of money in Haverfordwest – grant-aided – and the town centre is in quite a reasonable situation.

“It’s really positive; in two-to-three-to-five years Haverfordwest will be a more vibrant place than it is today.”

Members backed a recommendation to submit a call for £1m from Town Centre Loan funding for the works, adding that to the current capital programme allocation, totalling £1.656m.

If the funding call is not successful, a future Cabinet meeting will hear alternative recommendations.

Business

Oil firm praised for putting customers first during price surge

Published

3 days ago

March 14, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A PEMBROKESHIRE heating oil supplier has been praised by a local customer after choosing to honour its original prices despite a sharp rise in fuel costs.

Sarah Maling contacted The Herald after receiving a delivery from J E Lawrence & Son Ltd, saying the company had prioritised fairness to customers during a period of intense demand.

The customer had ordered around 800 litres of heating oil on March 2 after her tank began running low. However, due to extremely high demand, the company was unable to deliver until Friday (Mar 13). Despite heating oil prices increasing rapidly since the order was placed, the firm honoured the original quoted price and delivered 500 litres instead, ensuring more households could receive some oil.

Sarah said the delivery driver arrived at her home at around 11:30am after already completing 27 deliveries that day.

She said: “Prices have gone insane since I ordered yet they stuck with the quoted price and delivered 500 litres and explained why in the letter.

“This is putting the customer before profit and making sure everyone who needs oil will hopefully get oil at a more affordable price.

“I just wanted it acknowledged that not all delivery companies are out to make a profit but care about their customers – the people of Pembrokeshire.”

The letter included with the delivery explained that distributors across the sector had cancelled existing orders as prices surged last week.

However, the company said it had chosen not to cancel earlier orders and instead decided to limit deliveries so that more customers would receive some fuel.

The letter stated: “We have experienced huge volumes of orders and deliveries are now taking two to three weeks.

“Most distributors cancelled existing orders when prices increased rapidly last week, and those customers had to go to the back of a very long queue with another supplier.

“We have chosen not to do that and your original price has been honoured.”