**Solar Farm Development Spurs Unprecedented Collaboration Between Developer and Community Walkers**
In an amicable display of cooperation, a solar energy project in Swansea has brought about a ground-breaking agreement between renewable energy developers and local residents concerned about their countryside access. The outcome reflects a balanced compromise, ensuring both the advancement of green infrastructure and the ongoing enjoyment of rural paths by the public.
The origins of the partnership stem back four years when people living in Glais, a community on the outskirts of Swansea, became aware of plans to construct a 20-megawatt solar farm near Graig y Pal. Fearing potential loss of established walking routes, 35 individuals submitted evidence to the city council supporting the formal recognition of 3.5 kilometres of so-called ‘claimed’ footpaths. These well-trodden tracks, some in use for over two decades, were proposed for official inclusion in Swansea’s public rights of way map.
Despite these concerns, the solar project, led by CYP Solar, was given the green light by the Welsh Government in 2024. Instead of resulting in ongoing friction, negotiations commenced, aiming to protect public access while accommodating the infrastructure required by the new solar array.
Through a process described by officials as highly constructive, both the developer and applicants found common ground. The original proposal for 3.5km of footpaths was set aside in favour of a significantly enhanced network—5.5 kilometres encompassing mostly bridleways, which not only maintained rural connectivity but extended it and made it more accessible to cyclists and horse riders, alongside traditional walkers.
This solution, which now awaits a formal dedication agreement between CYP Solar and Swansea Council, would see the revised network established in tandem with the new solar facility. Notably, part of the route will traverse the solar farm itself, though with fencing and clear boundaries to protect infrastructure without impinging upon users’ experiences.
Councillor Brigitte Rowlands, who represents the Clydach area including Glais, remarked on the spirit of cooperation, highlighting the mutual achievements arising when opposing parties seek shared solutions. “There’s much to be learned from working together,” she stated. “A bit of give and take from everybody really helps.”
During discussions at the city’s planning committee, it was explained by countryside access officer Chris Dale that the unique willingness to compromise had produced a rare win-win outcome. “Both the applicants and the developer approached the situation with a willingness to compromise,” Mr Dale said. “The result has been beneficial for both parties.”
In a peculiar legal twist, there is no formal mechanism for withdrawing applications for footpath recognition from the process. Instead, councillors were advised to officially refuse the initial claim and approve the much-expanded bridleway network—an action unanimously supported at the meeting. Further coordination with Neath Port Talbot Council was secured to ensure a short 380-metre section in their jurisdiction would also gain right-of-way status, indicating a broader spirit of regional cooperation.
One unresolved issue remains: a separate path crossing neighbouring farmland, which campaigners still wish to see added to public maps. The council assured that this matter would be dealt with independently in due course.
Councillor Rowlands summed up the process as “a constructive and balanced approach between land management and public access,” reflecting the modern challenge of balancing development and tradition in rural Wales. The outcome is, for many, a beacon for future negotiations elsewhere, illustrating that renewable ambitions need not come at the expense of cherished community routes.
Once completed, the CYP Solar development will join a growing number of solar farms reshaping the Welsh landscape. Swansea Council, which manages some 655km of public rights of way, will integrate the new 5.5km network after construction, ensuring that the evolving countryside remains open and accessible for years to come.
This case serves as a significant example of how differing interests—environmental, recreational, and developmental—can be harmonised with goodwill and dialogue, creating opportunities for mutually beneficial progress in the heart of Welsh communities.