Gething donation 'won't affect planning decision'

The Gwent Levels are home to numerous species of protected animal

A senior Welsh government minister has insisted that controversial donations to Vaughan Gething's leadership campaign will not affect her decision on a planning application by the donor's business.

Mr Gething, who became first minister and Welsh Labour leader last month, received £200,000 from Dauson Environmental Group.

The same company, which is owned by a man twice convicted for environmental offences, hopes to build a solar farm on the Gwent Levels.

However, because it is classed as a "development of national significance", it would need Welsh government approval to go ahead.

That decision will be taken by the new Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Local Government and Planning Julie James.

Asked if Mr Gething's decision to accept the money had put her in a tricky position, Ms James said: "No.

"Individual planning applications are treated on their merits.

"I know nothing about that application," she told BBC Politics Wales.

"I can absolutely assure you that the first minister will have no part of it, and I wouldn't have accepted the job if I thought there was any issue there."

Vaughan Gething, has rejected calls to return a £200,000 donation from a company run by a man twice convicted for environmental offences

The proposed development would be in Rumney, Cardiff, and is on a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

As the local Member of the Senedd (MS) for the proposed development, Mr Gething would not be able to take the decision.

During the leadership race, BBC News was told that he was unaware of the planning application when the donation was accepted.

Development on the Gwent Levels is controversial, and the Welsh government has recently rejected two other solar farm applications there on biodiversity grounds.

It also rejected the M4 Relief Road in 2019 because of environmental fears.

'Opaque' rules

The Gwent Levels have proved attractive to solar farm development, in part because of the ease of connection to the National Grid as the area is crisscrossed by pylons.

Dauson, which is run by David Neal, is yet to file a full planning application, but has said it intends to do so in the last quarter of 2024.

Immediately after Mr Gething was crowned Welsh Labour leader, Ms James called for a review of the rules around campaign funding.

Mr Gething has now promised to conduct such a review.

Ms James said she was "very pleased" with that but added that the review needed to do "a number of things" and the rules as they stand were "opaque".

Mr Gething has always said the donations to his campaign were properly declared.

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