A wave of support for transferring control of the Crown Estate to Wales is sweeping across the country, with seventeen local authorities now backing the call for this vital economic asset to be placed in Welsh hands.
What began in September 2024 with Swansea Council passing the first motion has rapidly gathered pace, as councils across Wales respond to increasing public pressure. The latest to join the campaign was the Bridgend County Borough Council on 12 March 2025.
The Councils that have passed motions are:
Swansea Council, Gwynedd Council, Monmouthshire County Council, Denbighshire County Council, Carmarthenshire County Council, Powys County Council, Ceredigion County Council, Neath Port Talbot Council, Caerphilly County Borough Council, Flintshire County Council, Conwy County Borough Council, Wrexham County Borough Council, Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council, Isle of Anglesey County Council, Vale of Glamorgan Council and Bridgend County Borough Council.
Why Does It Matter?
The Crown Estate controls vast areas of Welsh land and sea, including 65% of the foreshore and riverbed and over 50,000 acres of land. While it profits from offshore wind and other developments in Wales, up to 75% of its revenue goes directly to the UK Treasury, with a further 25% allocated to the monarchy - leaving Wales with no say over how its own resources are used.
A 2023 Freedom of Information request revealed the value of the Crown Estate in Wales has soared to £853 million, with 93% of that coming from offshore renewables - a sector set to expand rapidly. Meanwhile, a 2023 YouGov poll found that 75% of people in Wales support transferring control of the Crown Estate to Wales.
Yet, despite Scotland securing control over its Crown Estate in 2016, both the previous Conservative UK Government and the current Labour UK Government have rejected calls for Wales to have the same powers.
Councils Take a Stand
With local authorities facing severe financial pressure, the amount of money flowing out of Wales to the Crown Estate has become an urgent issue. Gwynedd Council recently condemned the £160,000 it paid to the Crown Estate last year as "immoral," especially as councils struggle to fund essential services.
YesCymru Calls for Action
YesCymru Chair, Phyl Griffiths, said:
"This is a turning point. Local authorities across Wales are stepping up and demanding what is rightfully ours – the ability to control our own natural resources for the benefit of our communities. Westminster has ignored these calls for too long, despite the fact that Scotland has already been given this power.
We are talking about £853 million in Welsh wealth, much of it from offshore renewables, that could be reinvested in Wales instead of being siphoned off to London. This isn’t just about money; it’s about fairness and self-determination.
The fact that all of these councils have taken action shows the difference that grassroots campaigning can make. Members of YesCymru have been at the heart of this campaign, proving that when we work together, we can shift the political landscape in Wales. But we need more people to get involved. If you want to see real change, now is the time to join YesCymru and help us push this campaign even further.
