Wales Highlights 2019/20 02

WALES HIGHLIGHTS 2019/20

Working for Wales 576MW Once consented, the Gwynt y Môr extension could deliver up to 576MW of capacity. The Crown Estate manages marine and land assets in Wales. This report provides a summary of the highlights 65% and main developments for the period 1 April 2019 We manage around 65 per cent of the Welsh – 31 March 2020. Further reporting on our activities foreshore and riverbed. in Wales, and how we are fulfilling our duty under the Environment (Wales) Act 2016 Part 1 – Section 6 27,80 0 ha to protect the natural environment in the region can Inland, we own around 27,800 hectares (68,700 acres) of Welsh common land. be found online in our Biodiversity and Resilience of Ecosystems Report 2019 at the link below.

For more information see: thecrownestate.co.uk/biodiversity-report-wales

In everything we do, we seek to take a long- Areas of responsibility In addition, we manage the rights to deposits term view and consider our actions from of gold and silver, known as Mines Royal. Our responsibilities in Wales include the every perspective. Our success relies on There are two pending Mines Royal leases seabed out to 12 nautical miles. Our our relationships with all of our stakeholders, and a pending bulk sample lease currently interests therefore include renewable from our customers and partners through to being finalised; in addition, there are two energy (which is our most significant activity the communities we serve. We aim to bring a current Mines Royal option agreements in the region), oil and gas pipelines, marine partnership approach to these relationships and four pending option agreements. aggregate extraction, telecommunications to achieve the best outcomes for everyone. and power cables. In addition, we hold the Working in partnership While the COVID-19 pandemic only rights to the resources on the continental materialised towards the end of the shelf, such as natural resources and Our approach to asset management in 2019/20 financial year, its impact for some offshore energy, but excluding fossil fuels. Wales is grounded in a partnership approach of our customers and operations in Wales, which sees us work together with a diverse We also manage around 65 per cent of as with the rest of the UK, was felt almost range of organisations. This includes the Welsh foreshore and riverbed, which immediately and remains a developing collaborating with the , includes a number of ports, such as the busy situation. Our approach has been to understanding its aims and working with a and multi-functional Port of Milford Haven in maintain a dialogue with our customers number of departments on shared priorities. Pembrokeshire, and various marinas. and partners during this difficult time to Over the course of the last year, we have help navigate the operational challenges Aquaculture is an increasingly important been working with a number of organisations, brought about by the pandemic’s arrival. sector and we anticipate new schemes including the Welsh Government and Natural being considered across Wales. We have A more detailed account of our UK-wide Resources Wales to define and set up a new recently granted rights to pilot a 3D sea operational response relating to our programme to facilitate the sustainable and farming project – a sustainable system customers and wider networks can be coordinated expansion of offshore wind in of farming which enables the vertical co- found on page 18 of our Annual Report. the UK – the Offshore Wind Evidence and propagation and cultivation of seaweeds Change programme. This collaborative For more information see: and shellfish under the water’s surface. programme will help the sector to meet the thecrownestate.co.uk/ UK’s commitments to the low carbon energy 2020-annual-report-document Additionally, we have granted rights to seed a two hectare (20,000 sq m) area of the transition whilst supporting action to secure seabed with seagrass in a pilot scheme clean, healthy, productive and biologically off of Dale near Milford Haven. Over the diverse seas. next three to five years the benefits to In November 2019 the first Welsh National the environment should include carbon Marine Plan (WNMP) was adopted by the sequestration and marine habitat formation. Welsh Government, and as part of the If successful this project could be rolled Marine Planning Stakeholder Reference out across Wales and wider in the UK. Group, we provided data and expertise to Inland, we own around 27,800 hectares help with the development of the WNMP (68,700 acres) of Welsh common land which and we continue to be involved in its is primarily rough pasture for grazing, but implementation. also acts as an important natural resource We continue to enjoy a strong relationship for all to enjoy within the Welsh countryside. with Natural Resources Wales and work We are responsible for around 100,000 in partnership where we have holdings to hectares (247,000 acres) of mineral- ensure that the natural resources of Wales only interests, with eight sites currently are sustainably managed for the long term. leased for mineral extraction.

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We also participate in a number of working and This is the first time that rights have been In 2018 we introduced our next generation advisory groups. This includes membership of awarded for floating wind in Wales, marking Electronic Monitoring System (EMS) to the Wales Marine Action and Advisory Group a significant moment for the Welsh offshore the regular UK marine aggregate dredging (WMAAG) and the Marine Protected Areas wind sector. fleet. We have been developing this system Network Management Steering Group to further to create a version that is dedicated The project comes forward as part of our ensure a joined up approach and knowledge- to the non-regular contract dredging fleet, ongoing Offshore Wind Innovation and sharing across the marine space. aimed at one off coastal adaptation projects Demonstration opportunity, designed to such as beach replenishment and capital facilitate pre-commercial innovation through Supporting offshore dredging. The system has completed sea the trial of new and emerging technologies renewable energy trials and we are aiming to introduce it in in live conditions. Floating technologies, late 2020. Its introduction will facilitate which are better suited to deeper waters Offshore wind the monitoring of dredgers that operate on than traditional ‘fixed’ foundations, are set The UK offshore wind sector has had marine aggregate licences on a temporary, to play a key part in the sustainable future another landmark year, seeing operational ad-hoc basis when it is impractical to fit the of UK offshore wind, unlocking new areas capacity increasing to 9.3GW. One of the regular system, and will enable us to ensure of seabed. largest operational wind farms in the UK, all dredging activity in our waters continues the 576MW Gwynt y Môr offshore wind to be undertaken in a responsible and farm off the north coast of Wales, played Wave and tidal compliant manner. a significant part in this. After a tranquil Wales also has significant wave and tidal 2018/19, wind speeds returned to normal energy potential. We continue to play a Sharing knowledge role in supporting this sector through during the year and following a particularly Our expert teams are uniquely placed engagement with the Marine Energy Wales blustery start to 2020 in Wales, revenue to look at the bigger picture across a Working Group, Welsh Government’s derived from Offshore wind in Wales breadth of sectors, carefully managing Consenting Strategic Advisory Group increased in the 2019/20 financial year. competing demands for space on a (CSAG) and through discussions with our busy seabed and helping to unlock We concluded the plan-level Habitats customers over the issues facing their opportunities for sustainable development. Regulations Assessment for the 2017 awarded leased sites. We continue to offer We do this through engaging with industry Extensions opportunity over the course of the opportunity to access the seabed for stakeholders and facilitating better 2019. This resulted in almost 3GW of new wave projects up to 3MW or tidal stream information sharing. Our Marine Data projects across English and Welsh waters projects up to 30MW. progressing to award of seabed rights, Exchange (MDE) continues to grow and alongside existing operational wind farms. There is a strong development interest in now holds over 27TB of offshore survey This included the proposed extension to Wales in both wave and tidal and several test data collected in Welsh waters from 1956 Gwynt y Môr, known as Awel y Môr. Once and demonstration projects are targeting to 2019. Covering a variety of survey consented, the extension could deliver up to a 2023 start date which fits in with wider campaigns, including environmental 576MW of capacity, adjacent to the existing funding streams. Our agreements issued monitoring, site investigation and project, supporting Wales in delivery of its net to the interested parties have taken these meteorological data, from sectors such zero ambitions and bringing further benefits timelines into account, but the primary aim as offshore wind, tidal stream and marine to the local community. of the developers is currently to secure the aggregates. Over half of this data is publicly relevant planning and finance. available to access and download for free Areas of Wales’s seabed have also been at the link below. included in Offshore Wind Leasing Round Marine aggregates For more information see: 4 – our first major UK leasing round The Crown Estate is responsible for marinedataexchange.co.uk in a decade. Launched in September licensing the extraction of aggregates 2019, with the pre-qualification process As the offshore sector continues to grow, where we manage the seabed. Marine concluded in early 2020, The Northern it is important to ensure that marine aggregates are an important resource for Wales and Irish Sea Bidding Area is one energy research and knowledge sharing Wales, accounting for approximately 70% of four seabed areas that have been made is coordinated to help build a sustainable of sand and gravel sales in South Wales. available to the market as part of the sector for the long term. Alongside the Round 4 process. Projects from Leasing In 2019, the tonnage of marine aggregates Welsh Government, Natural Resources Round 4 will be identified later this year, as delivered to Welsh ports increased to Wales and other industry stakeholders, part of a competitive tender process, and 683,725 tonnes, with 512,955 tonnes we continue to support the Offshore subject to a Plan-level Habitats Regulations being dredged from Welsh Waters. A total Renewables Joint Industry Programme Assessment, could be awarded rights in of 914,267 tonnes were dredged from (ORJIP) for Ocean Energy. This brings 2021. Once consented and developed, Welsh Waters, an increase of 142% on together industry, regulators, researchers Round 4 projects could be operational the prior year. and funders so that the sector’s consenting as early as 2030. risks can be addressed in a strategic and This increase is predominantly as a result coordinated manner. This avoids duplication of three Exploration areas converting to Floating offshore wind of efforts and, in turn, helps to reduce delays Production areas in early 2019. Post year end, in August 2020, we in project delivery. announced the award of seabed rights to Following the significant level of interest in developer Blue Gem Wind (a joint venture our last marine aggregate tender, which was between Total and Simply Blue Energy), for concluded in 2019, we have confirmed that the proposed 96MW Erebus floating wind we will be holding a further licensing round demonstration project, in the Welsh waters in 2021. of the Celtic Sea, approximately 44km from shore.

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WALES HIGHLIGHTS 2019/20

FINANCIAL The Crown Estate in Wales HIGHLIGHTS The Crown (UNAUDITED) The Crown The Crown The Crown The Crown Estate Estate Estate Estate Estate Wales The Crown Wales Wales Total Total Increase/ Estate Year ended Year ended Year ended Year ended (decrease) Wales 31 March 31 March 31 March 31 March from prior Percentage 2020 2019 2020 2019 year of Total Revenue by activity 2019/20 £m £m £m £m % % Revenue 8.8 7. 3 476.0 441.0 20.5 1.8 £8.8m Gross Surplus 8.4 7.0 389.4 379.8 20.0 2.2 Property value 96.8 93.0 12,522.1 12,526.1 4.1 0.8 Capital Investments 0.2 0.2 458.5 381.3 Capital Receipts 1.7 – 356.5 192.8

The Crown The Crown The Crown The Crown Estate Estate Estate Estate Wales Wales Wales Wales Year ended Year ended Year ended Year ended 31 March 31 March 31 March 31 March 2020 2019 2020 2019 (restated) (restated) Revenue by activity £m £m Property value by activity £m £m Agriculture 0.1 0.1 Agriculture 0.6 2.5 Portfolio Forestry – – Forestry – 0.1 Energy, Minerals & Infrastructure £8.7m Regional 0.1 0.1 Regional 0.6 2.6 Regional £0.1m Cables/pipelines 1.1 1.1 Cables/pipelines 13.3 13.0 Coastal 1.9 1.4 Coastal 17.5 17.0 Minerals 0.9 1.1 Minerals 5.7 6.2 Dredging 1.4 0.6 Dredging 10.5 5.0 Property value by activity Renewables 3.4 3.0 Renewables 49.2 49.2 as at 31 March 2020 Energy, Minerals Energy, Minerals & Infrastructure 8.7 7. 2 & Infrastructure 96.2 90.4 £96.8m Total 8.8 7. 3 Total 96.8 93.0 Note: On 1 April 2019, the Rural portfolio merged with the Regional portfolio and the Coastal portfolio merged with the Energy, Minerals & Infrastructure portfolio and as a consequence the analysis for the year ended 31 March 2019 has been restated.

Portfolio

Energy, Minerals & Infrastructure £96.2m

Regional £0.6m

LONDON WINDSOR thecrownestate.co.uk @TheCrownEstate The Crown Estate The Crown Estate 1 St James’s Market The Great Park London Windsor SW1Y 4AH SL4 2HT T 020 7851 5000 T 01753 860 222

THE CROWN ESTATE Wales Highlights 2019/20