Representing over 400 Welsh farmers and landowners in a landmark judicial review against Green GEN Cymru's unlawful conduct.
Mary Smith
Lead Solicitor
New South Law is proud to represent the Justice for Wales coalition — a group of over 400 farmers, landowners, and rural businesses united in their fight against the unlawful practices of Green GEN Cymru (GGC).
Green GEN Cymru, an energy company central to the UK's net-zero infrastructure plans, is seeking to build three pylon routes spanning over 200 kilometres across Powys, Ceredigion, and Carmarthenshire, leading to the Cambrian Mountains.
While we fully support the transition to renewable energy, we believe this must be achieved lawfully and with respect for the rights of individuals and communities.
Our clients have reported systematic abuses by GGC and its agents, including:
Our judicial review challenges GGC's conduct on multiple grounds. We argue that the company is operating beyond its statutory powers and that its agents are engaging in unlawful behaviour that constitutes trespass and harassment.
"This is not about isolated mistakes; this is a systemic pattern of behaviour that will continue unless the court intervenes. Every farmer has the right to work without fear — rights that are being eroded by GGC."
The threat of trespass, contamination, and bullying behaviour at homes and on farms is a consistent fear shared across our clients and the hundreds of others who have come forward.
One of the most serious allegations involves surveyors entering farms during TB outbreaks without following proper biosecurity protocols. Video evidence shows surveyors in contaminated clothing wading through protected waterways that are home to endangered species including white-clawed crayfish and otters.
For farmers who have lost livestock to TB, the prospect of disease being spread by uncontrolled access to their land is devastating — not just financially, but to farming legacies built over generations.
Natalie Barstow, lead claimant and founder of Justice for Wales, describes the situation:
"We had no choice but to go to law through the High Court as a result of Green GEN Cymru's bullying campaign. We have received hundreds of reports from people feeling their homes are being trespassed. Many feel powerless, outnumbered, and fear being arrested or prosecuted."
Other clients have faced equally distressing experiences — from surveyors entering land through holes in hedges during TB outbreaks, to elderly couples being threatened with £80,000 in legal costs if they didn't sign access agreements.
We are confident that a thorough and just legal process will expose these systemic deficiencies and bring an end to the energy company's unlawful practices.
Our message to GGC is clear: having the status of an acquiring authority comes with a responsibility to act lawfully and treat the public reasonably and fairly. It does not give carte blanche to use oppressive and unlawful tactics in pursuit of commercial objectives.
We will continue to update this page as the case progresses.
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