Huw Irranca-Davies MS, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs
Today, I am announcing record investment in coal tip safety through a new Coal Tip multiyear grant scheme.
I am delighted to confirm that following our call for applications, phase 1 of the new coal tip safety grant will allocate over £80m of funding to 10 local authorities and Natural resources Wales (NRW) from 2026-27, until 2029-30.
This multiyear approach is something I have long called for, it will enable vital maintenance works on over 400 tips between now and 2030 and will enable local authorities and NRW to plan, develop and deliver larger more complex schemes.
Local authorities and NRW will undertake a range of works from minor maintenance through to major capital proposals for projects worth up to £7million.
Some of the headline allocations include:
- Nant-Yr-Odyn, Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council - £7m
- The British Regeneration Project Phase 1 - Torfaen County Borough Council - £5.6m
- Graig Ddu Dinas, Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council - £4.8m
- Pen Yr Englyn, Natural Resources Wales - £3.8m
- Tylorstown Landslip Remediation, Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council - £2.3m
I am grateful to all partners for their continued work in delivering this programme.
I want to acknowledge the contribution of the UK Government, which has committed £25 million in this financial year and a further £118 million over the next three years, bringing the total UK investment to £143 million.
When combined with Welsh Government funding, this means more than £230 million has now been committed to coal tip safety across Wales. This reflects the reality that these tips pre‑date devolution and that the responsibility to address them is shared.
Given the inherently unpredictable nature of coal tip conditions, including the impact of adverse and extreme weather events, the grant scheme will be reopened on an annual basis. This will ensure that funding decisions remain responsive to emerging risks and changing local priorities. Investing in coal tip safety supports the communities living in the shadow of these tips. This investment brings economic growth and employment opportunities to some of the most deprived communities in Wales, bringing land back into use and encouraging investment in new technologies.
I will shortly be making an Oral Statement to the Senedd on the delivery of the wider programme around coal tip safety in Wales where I will be happy to take any questions relating to the Grant Scheme.