Connect with us
Advertisement
Advertisement

Business

Crabb supports larger turbines sited farther offshore to ‘create more power’

Published

on

FLOATING offshore wind could represent the single biggest investment opportunity in Wales for decades, the Welsh Affairs Committee argued this week (Friday, Mar 10), but urgent clarity is needed by the UK Government to turbo-charge efforts.

The Crown Estate has said that there is scope for floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea to generate 20GW of energy by being situated further offshore. If its full potential is realised, the Committee argues that floating offshore wind farms could create thousands of high-quality, long-term jobs and give Wales the ‘first-mover’ advantage. However, developers and port operators told the Committee that a lack of long-term targets and a clear pipeline of projects to unlock investment are stifling progress. The UK Government must urgently address this, and steps must be taken to ensure consenting bodies are adequately staffed and resourced to take on the anticipated increase in demand.

In October 2022, the Committee published its report considering grid capacity, and argued that network constraints hold back green energy projects in Wales. The setting of long-term targets and a roadmap of delivery would also benefit National Grid ESO in planning network upgrades.

Local supply chains in Wales must benefit from the manufacture and installation of floating offshore wind, and their involvement must be prioritised over international competitors. The Committee argues that local supply chains did not benefit from the rollout of conventional, fixed-bottom offshore wind as much as they could have, with major fabrication and installation work undertaken overseas. The Committee is determined that this is not repeated as the potential for wealth and job creation in Wales is too great an opportunity to miss.

While the Crown Estate requires developers to provide supply chain investment plans as part of their bid for a lease, a mechanism is needed to hold developers to account on delivery of these plans. Similarly, the Committee is calling on the UK Government to reform future Contracts for Difference auctions for floating offshore wind to include enforceable local content requirements.

Ultimately, the Committee believes the successful delivery of floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea will require coordination between the UK and Welsh Government, public bodies and industry in a number of interdependent policy areas. Only then can Wales capitalise on the enormous potential floating offshore wind represents to the nation.

Preseli Pembrokeshire MP and Welsh Affairs Committee Chair, Stephen Crabb, said: “New floating offshore wind technology will open up the deep waters of the Celtic Sea to the green energy revolution. Larger turbines sited farther offshore than traditional turbines will harness the stronger winds to deliver greater power generation.”

“Wales will have a key role in helping the UK to reach its target of 5GW of floating offshore wind by 2030. Our Committee was told that floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea could bring £20 billion of direct investment into the domestic market. Some of the world’s largest energy companies are already drawing up Celtic Sea investment plans.

“The challenge is to ensure that floating offshore wind creates real long-term economic value for Wales. Ports like Milford Haven and Port Talbot are ideally situated to become hubs for manufacturing and operations, and firms like Tata Steel could form part of a strong Welsh supply chain. Achieving this will require a clear strategy from Government and the Crown Estate to prioritise domestic content and ensure developers meet their commitments.

“Floating offshore wind represents a once-in-a-generation industrial opportunity for Wales – we cannot afford to let this pass us by.”

Business

TerraQuest to provide planning portal services across Wales

Published

on

TERRAQUEST will take over the provision of its Planning Portal service for planning applications across Wales starting 31 March 2025, following a new agreement with the Welsh Government.

The Planning Portal, already in use for over 97% of planning applications in England, will allow Welsh applicants to submit planning applications and receive essential updates regarding sites in Wales.

The service will be fully bilingual, offering both Welsh and English language options. Existing users of Planning Applications Wales will retain their accounts and can easily transfer to the new system.

Applicants will benefit from enhanced services, including standardised payment options across all 25 Welsh authorities, which will streamline the submission process and reduce invalid applications.

Additionally, the Planning Portal will feature a built-in location plan tool, capable of generating compliant plans, capturing spatial data, and transferring it digitally to Welsh authorities—reducing the need for third-party tools.

The new portal will also offer developers working in both England and Wales a consistent experience across both countries.

Plans are in place to add more features, such as integration with building control applications, ensuring a comprehensive service from a single platform.

Rebecca Evans, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, said: “We are committed to streamlining the planning process in Wales and speeding up decision-making on key projects. This seamless transition to a trusted partner will help ensure consistency and efficiency, benefiting both applicants and the planning process.”

Geoff Keal, CEO of TerraQuest, said: “We are excited to deliver both a smooth transition and an improved experience for users. The Planning Portal is a proven tool that has successfully supported thousands of applicants in keeping track of their applications. We look forward to working closely with the Welsh Government and welcoming new users in Wales.”

Continue Reading

Business

Welsh Water bills soar as CEO defends huge salary

Published

on

WELSH Water’s chief executive has defended his high earnings amid mounting criticism over soaring customer bills and the company’s record on sewage pollution.

Peter Perry, head of Dŵr Cymru, told MPs on the UK Parliament’s Environment Committee that his salary was “reflective of performance.” However, in Wales, the company has faced repeated scrutiny for its handling of sewage spills, service disruptions, and rising household water costs.

Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and the Environment, Janet Finch-Saunders MS, questioned Dŵr Cymru’s performance, highlighting a series of recent failures.

In January, as many as 40,000 homes in North Wales were left without water after a burst pipe at the Bryn Cowlyd Water Treatment Works in Dolgarrog, Conwy. The company has also issued boil water notices in Rhondda Cynon Taf, and Welsh beaches have experienced some of the highest levels of sewage discharge in the UK.

In 2023, Dŵr Cymru was responsible for over 916,000 hours of sewage discharges into rivers, lakes, and coastal waters—around 20% of all recorded sewage spills across England and Wales.

Finch-Saunders said: “We’ve seen constant headlines about sewage dumping, service disruptions, and rising customer bills, making it unbelievable that the head of Dŵr Cymru can justify his inflated salary as performance-based.

“With Wales facing four times as many sewage discharges proportionally as England, and Dŵr Cymru customers now paying the highest water bills in the country, such an exorbitant salary is a slap in the face to customers.

“The public shouldn’t be forced to cover the costs of inflated executive pay, especially when water companies have failed to address long-standing issues and delayed critical infrastructure upgrades until it’s too late.”

CEO’s earnings under scrutiny

Despite being a not-for-profit organisation, Dŵr Cymru has continued to pay its chief executive a substantial salary.

  • Peter Perry’s total remuneration in 2021 was £892,000.
  • In 2022, he earned £675,000, rising to £792,000 in 2023.
  • In 2024, his salary was £355,000, with £91,000 in variable pay, £34,000 in pension-linked payments, and a further £9,000, bringing his total earnings to £489,000.

Meanwhile, Dŵr Cymru customers are set to face the highest water bills in England and Wales.

Continue Reading

Business

Carmarthenshire bridal boutique owner donates wedding gowns as shop closes

Published

on

THE OWNER of a well-known bridal boutique in Llandeilo has donated nearly 100 bespoke wedding gowns to charity as he prepares to close his business after 16 years.

Huw Rees, the stylist and broadcaster behind Huw Rees Brides, said he was forced to shut the store due to kidney failure. Wanting to end on a “positive note,” he has donated dresses to several charities, including Cancer Research, the British Red Cross, local colleges, and even a dog charity.

Speaking to BBC Radio Wales Breakfast, Mr Rees said: “People have been disappointed. We are a multi-award-winning brand and just won a national wedding award recently, but customers who know why have been very supportive.”

Among the donations, around 20 dresses have gone to Cancer Research, while 40 gowns have been given to Bridgend and Carmarthen colleges to support sustainability projects. A further 30 wedding dresses, along with bridesmaids’ dresses, veils, and accessories, have been handed over to the British Red Cross in Llandeilo.

British Red Cross shop manager Sarah Morris said the store was “overwhelmed” by Mr Rees’ generosity.

“The shop has been buzzing with excitement. The phone has been ringing with enquiries about the dresses, and customers have been visiting to try them on,” she said. “The money raised will support our work across the UK and worldwide, helping people in crisis. We are truly grateful to Huw for this donation.”

The donated gowns include bespoke designs by Mr Rees, as well as dresses from luxury brands such as Ellis Bridal, Lou Lou, and Louise Bentley, typically priced at over £1,000. However, the donated dresses have been sold for between £50 and £100.

Mr Rees, who is known as Huw “Fash” and is a regular on S4C programmes Prynhawn Da and Heno, has openly spoken about his health struggles, including undergoing dialysis for kidney disease.

Despite the closure, Mr Rees said he and his team will honour their commitments to existing brides, with their final wedding scheduled for November.

Looking ahead, the stylist revealed he is training to become a celebrant and hopes to officiate weddings instead of designing dresses.

“We’ve had 16 successful years, and I’m just grateful for the supportive brides,” he said. “Now it’s time to think about the future.”

Continue Reading

Crime8 hours ago

Calls for urgent reform as violence among teens rises in Wales

VIOLENCE AMONG TEENS LEADING TO CALLS FOR WELSH GOVERNMENT TO ACT WALES is experiencing an alarming surge in violent crime...

Community13 hours ago

Caldey Island mourns loss of beloved long-time resident

CALDEY ISLAND is in mourning following the passing of its oldest resident, Rita Cunningham, at the age of 95. A...

News15 hours ago

Dog attack in Pembroke Dock sparks police probe and online debate

A VIOLENT dog attack in Pembroke Dock town centre on Tuesday (March 11) has led to a police investigation and...

Business15 hours ago

Câr-Y-Môr leads Wales’ £105m regenerative sea farming push

PEMBROKESHIRE INITIATIVE LAUNCHES CROWDFUNDER TO EXPAND INDUSTRY Wales is poised to develop a £105 million regenerative sea farming industry, projected...

Crime2 days ago

Milford man jailed for hurling racial insults during verbal attack

A Milford man has admitted hurling a barrage of racial insults at a male, after calling him ‘a black b******’...

News3 days ago

Man faces charges over tragic death of baby in Tenby car park

A MAN accused of involvement in the death of a six-month-old baby in a multi-storey car park in Tenby has...

News3 days ago

Oil tanker and cargo ship ablaze after collision in North Sea

MILFORD HAVEN LINKS TO LARGE SCALE MARITIME RESCUE OPERATION A MAJOR maritime disaster unfolded in the North Sea on Monday...

Crime3 days ago

Milford Haven man jailed for six years after hiding cocaine in police car

A MILFORD HAVEN man has been jailed for six years after attempting to hide nearly 50 grams of cocaine under...

News3 days ago

Pembrokeshire becomes latest council to consider devolution of Crown Estate

SENIOR councillors will consider a bid for Pembrokeshire to become the latest council to support the devolution of Crown Estate...

Community5 days ago

Festival of the Sea makes a splash at Milford Waterfront this weekend

MILFORD HAVEN is buzzing with excitement as the Festival of the Sea kicks off this weekend, bringing a wave of...

Popular This Week