‘Wales’ Crown Estate profits soar 2300% but our communities see no benefit – it's time for devolution’

Today (Friday 26 June) the Crown Estate have published their annual review, also releasing a Wales-specific review.

The report shows that in 2025/2026, the profit generated from Wales’ Crown Estate was £210 million. This figure is up more than 2300% from 2020/2021 when profits stood at £8.7 million.

Plaid Cymru has long called for Wales-specific figures in relation to the Crown Estate, and say that the new figures reinforce that their campaign to devolve the Crown Estate to Wales is a matter of priority.

Plaid Cymru Westminster Leader said that Plaid Cymru has a “mandate to keep fighting for fairness” with devolving the Crown Estate being a position held by every council in Wales. The new Plaid Cymru Welsh Government is also pursuing control over natural resources, in line with Scotland, where the Crown Estate was devolved in 2017. 

Ms Saville Roberts said that profits from Wales’ natural resources being sent to London is a “striking injustice” and that the next UK Government “must take steps to devolve the Crown Estate to Wales”. She aimed this directly at Andy Burnham who is the most likely successor of Keir Starmer, who said that he would put Wales at the centre of any government he runs.

Plaid Cymru have previously tabled amendments and bills in Westminster calling for the Crown Estate to be devolved but they have been rejected by the UK Government.

Plaid Cymru Westminster Leader, Liz Saville Roberts MP said:

“The Crown Estate in Wales’ profits have soared from £8.7 million in 2021 to £210 million in 2026, an increase of more than 2,300%. But the striking injustice is that our communities won’t see the benefit of the money they generated as it will be sent directly to the Treasury in London and it will be they that decide where and how it is spent.

“However, this does not have to be the case. Scotland has beeen in control of its natural resources since 2017, allowing its profits to be reinvested directly into Scottish public services and local communities. There is no reason why Wales should be treated differently.

“Plaid Cymru has long argued that devolving the Crown Estate is a matter of priority, and the people of Wales have given us a mandate to keep fighting for fairness. Every single council in Wales also agrees with this principle. We have tabled amendments and bills in Westminster on multiple occasions to devolve the Crown Estate, but the UK Government continues to ignore the people of Wales and deprive Welsh communities of the benefits created by their own natural wealth. As the frontrunner to be the next Prime Minister, Andy Burnham has said that he will put Wales at the centre of any government he runs. If he is to be true to his word, then the next UK Government must take steps to devolve the Crown Estate to Wales.”