CPRW Responds to UK Government’s Nuclear Plans for Wylfa, Raising Key Concerns for Anglesey

CPRW, Wales’ oldest countryside charity, has responded to the UK Government’s confirmation that new nuclear development will go ahead at the Wylfa site on Anglesey, welcoming long-awaited clarity but warning of significant environmental, planning, and community considerations.

The 700-acre site, sitting adjacent to both Heritage Coast and the Anglesey Coast AONB, has remained unused since the collapse of the previous Wylfa Newydd project in 2019. CPRW acknowledges that the proposed phased construction of up to three Rolls Royce small modular reactors (SMRs) could offer more manageable impacts than a single large-scale reactor, but stresses that the technology is untested at this scale.

The charity notes that the 470 MW design is much larger than traditional SMR definitions, potentially surpassing the former Trawsfynydd station in output. CPRW cautions that Rolls Royce has never built reactors of this size, and major regulatory, environmental, and financial hurdles still lie ahead.

A major issue highlighted by CPRW is nuclear waste storage. Current legislation requires all waste fuel to remain on site until a deep geological disposal facility is available — and the UK still has no firm plan for one.

The charity is cautiously optimistic that existing pylons across Anglesey can carry the power produced by three SMRs. However, it warns that the mainland grid will be under increasing strain as more renewable projects connect over the coming years. CPRW urges the National Energy System Operator to consider a subsea transmission route from Pentir, similar to the Sizewell C approach.

The charity also criticised the lack of information on how the Government intends to use the vast amount of “waste heat” nuclear plants produce — typically around two-thirds of their generated energy. CPRW believes there is significant potential for district heating or greenhouse agriculture.

The timing of the Government’s announcement also sparked surprise, coming ahead of the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP) and Wales-focused Regional Energy Strategic Plan (RESP). CPRW argues that placing inflexible baseload power in a region with low demand and high renewable generation may not be economically optimal.

Dr Jonathan Dean, Trustee of CPRW, said:

“After years of uncertainty about the Wylfa site, it is positive to finally have some clarity. However, these plans raise serious questions about scale, cost, waste, and environmental impact. The Government must ensure that the mistakes of previous projects are not repeated.
Small modular reactors are still an untested technology at this scale. While we recognise the potential contribution to low-carbon generation, the UK must not rush into decisions that could have lasting consequences for Wales’ environment and communities.

“CPRW will continue to scrutinise the process closely to make sure that the interests of rural Wales, its landscapes, and its people remain at the heart of every decision.”

CPRW has also called on the Welsh Government to revisit its own energy strategy, noting that three SMRs at Wylfa could generate roughly the same amount of low-carbon power as the entire pipeline of large onshore wind projects planned for Wales.

As the Wylfa project enters the planning and consent process, CPRW says it will be closely monitoring outstanding concerns, including impacts on the protected Sandwich Tern colony at Cemlyn, the Tre’r Gof SSSI, and rare acid grasslands.

References

• CPRW – https://www.cprw.org.uk

• UK Government nuclear announcements (DESNZ)

• Natural Resources Wales – Cemlyn Nature Reserve

• Rolls Royce SMR programme information