A response has been issued after claims that the Wylfa Newydd nuclear plant was scuppered by concerns over its impact on the Welsh language. London based media outlets have reported that the language played a part in the Anglesey project collapsing.
The Telegraph said that the nuclear power plant was "shelved after concerns for Welsh language". This is based on a planning inspectorate report released into the public domain four years ago in February 2021, although it was completed in the autumn of 2019.
Hitachi actually suspended work on the multi-billion-pound º£½ÇÊÓƵ nuclear project in January 2019 because of rising costs and the failure to reach a suitable funding deal with º£½ÇÊÓƵ Government. They formally withdrew from the project in September 2020.
This was despite strong local support for the scheme and backing from the island council - then led by current Ynys Mon MP Llinos Medi - and the previous island MP Virginia Crosbie.
The subsequent 906 page report by the º£½ÇÊÓƵ planning inspectorate did recommend refusal of a Development Consent Order for the £20bn project - warning of its impact on biodiversity, the local economy, housing stock and the Welsh language.
But while inspectors voiced concerns over the language impact it said it was "satisfied that the potential for significant residual effects on Welsh language and culture has been addressed through appropriate mitigation so as to avoid any unacceptable adverse impact." They added: "Furthermore, through the provision of employment opportunities the ExA(Examining Authority) consider that the proposal would have the positive benefit of enabling Welsh speakers to remain within the KSA."
The final decision on approving or refusing the scheme would have rested with the º£½ÇÊÓƵ Government. However at that stage Hitachi had already withdrawn backing for their subsidiary Horizon Nuclear Power over the funding concerns.
Plaid Cymru MP for Ynys MoÌ‚n, Llinos Medi said: "The people of Ynys MoÌ‚n deserve a future that balances economic growth with the protection of our unique language, culture, and environment. Scrapping the Hitachi project in 2020 was a failure of the Conservative º£½ÇÊÓƵ government to properly plan and invest in a sustainable future for our island.
"A well-planned, properly funded nuclear project could bring long-term, high-quality jobs and strengthen our Welsh-speaking communities, helping to keep young people on the island.
"I will continue to press the Labour º£½ÇÊÓƵ government to provide a clear and realistic strategy that delivers the economic opportunities Ynys MoÌ‚n needs while respecting our local identity and environment."
Iolo James, head of communications, nuclear Industry Association, said: "Planning reform for new nuclear projects is a huge opportunity for a site like Wylfa, unlocking significant opportunities by attracting new investment and creating good, skilled jobs for the people of Ynys Môn and beyond, ensuring more Welsh speakers can stay on the Island as well as protecting the environment from climate change with reliable, clean power.
"Further reforms such as introducing a net zero duty could make all the difference to greenlighting a new project, but considerations around the Welsh language and culture should be at the very heart of any development plans for new nuclear projects in Wales and were core to community acceptance of the Wylfa Newydd project.
"It is our understanding that the main planning hurdle in 2019 was the disproportionate environmental standards around the threat to wildlife and not the Welsh language. New nuclear at Wylfa would have a transformative socio-economic impact on Ynys Môn, creating long-lasting opportunity for the next generation and a sustainable future for Welsh communities."
