Welsh Crown Estate Devolution Bill a step closer to becoming law
Plaid Cymru urge UK Government to reconsider its stance ahead of the Bill's third reading in the Lords
A Bill that would transfer responsibility for the Crown Estate in Wales to the Welsh Government has passed the report stage in the House of Lords without opposition and is now set for its third reading.
The Crown Estate (Devolution to Wales) Bill, introduced by Plaid Cymru peer Dafydd Wigley, seeks to ensure that Welsh natural resources – including seabed rights and offshore wind developments – are managed from Wales and for the benefit of the people of Wales.
The Bill draws on precedent set by the UK Government in devolving the Crown Estate to Scotland via the Scotland Act 2016. In 2023–24, Scotland benefited by £113 million in revenue from its devolved Crown Estate. In contrast, the Crown Estate in Wales remains reserved to Westminster, and Senedd Cymru receives no such direct benefit.
During the debate on the Bill’s Committee stage, Lord Wigley highlighted the overwhelming political and civic support for the move, noting that all of Wales’s 22 local authorities – across a range of political parties – have passed resolutions calling for the devolution of the Crown Estate.
Plaid Cymru urged the UK Government now to support Dafydd Wigley's Bill when it returns to the House of Lords for its third reading after the summer recess, which would then allow it to be transferred to the House of Commons.
The party's energy spokesperson, Llinos Medi MP, said it gave "new momentum" to Plaid Cymru's campaign to devolve the Crown Estate.
The UK Labour government rejected Plaid Cymru's calls for control over the Crown Estate to be given to ministers in Wales in February, with Labour MPs - including those from Wales, voting against an amendment by Llinos Medi MP to the government's Crown Estate Bill.
Plaid Cymru Peer, Dafydd Wigley said:
“Wales has a history of exploitation of our natural resources, whether it is coal or other minerals, or our water resources, on which Birmingham and London now increasingly depend. We likewise see the exploitation of our energy potential – wave, sea currents, estuarial waters and wind on shore and in the seas around our coast.
“My Plaid Cymru colleagues and I want to see the maximum possible benefit from such projects coming into the Welsh economy; we want to see that happen in a planned manner that recognises the financial benefit that should rightly come to those who invest in such projects, but also to the communities in which they are based.
“Given this Bill has passed its Report Stage unopposed in the Lords, given the unanimous support of all Welsh councils towards the principle of the Bill, as well as the support of the Welsh Government, the UK Government should reflect on this issue and support my Bill when it returns for its Third Reading after the summer recess, and subsequently when it comes to the Commons, to make time available for MPs to discuss it further."
Plaid Cymru Energy spokesperson, Llinos Medi MP, added:
“The passing of this Bill’s Report Stage in the House of Lords gives new momentum to the campaign to devolve the Crown Estate. Combined with the unanimous support across all Welsh councils, it’s clear that the UK Government must now reconsider its stance.
“The UK Government can no longer justify keeping these powers in Westminster. If Scotland can control its own natural resources, then Wales deserves nothing less. This is about fairness, accountability, and empowering Welsh communities to shape their own future.”