A Plaid Cymru MS has said it “beggars belief” that several large scale solar farms have been earmarked for a unique Gwent ecosystem.

Peredur Owen Griffiths – who represents South Wales East – told the Senedd that the “fragile natural habitat” of the Gwent Levels are under threat due to the industrial sized energy projects planned on this SSSI land.

In questions to the Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, Peredur asked for clarification on what takes precedence in determining planning applications – environmental protections or energy production.

He said: “The Gwent levels are of international significance and are truly unique for featuring a criss-cross network of fertile fields and historic watercourses, known locally as ‘reens’, with some of these wetlands originally reclaimed from the sea by the Romans.

“It has remained largely untouched for centuries. As well as cattle, it is home to more than 200 species of insects and other invertebrates, many of them protected due to their rarity, within sites of special scientific interest.”

He added: “It beggars belief, therefore, that this incredible landscape could be subject to six huge separate solar farms to go with the Llanwern solar farm that has already been approved.

“This means that nearly a third of the total area of individual Gwent levels SSSIs has been proposed for solar farm development.

“Whilst I'm in favour of solar and other forms of renewable energy, in my view, it should not be located within crucial and fragile natural habitats like these wetlands.

“Minister, I know you cannot offer an opinion on the merits of such planning applications, but can you provide further insight into how such planning applications are determined, and give some indication of what criteria take precedence within the planning framework for large-scale projects like these?

“Where do SSSI status, 'best and most versatile' assessments and environmental impact assessments rank compared to energy production and economic benefit?”

In reply, Economy Minister Rebecca Evans said that “officials are currently in the process of preparing some further planning guidance.”

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