Wales would be worse off with Crown Estate devolution
Nic Conner
One of the many things I love about Nation.Cymru is its mission to punch up, not down—a platform for holding governments, organisations, and authorities accountable to the Welsh people. So, it feels strange writing today in defence of the ultimate hierarchical institution—the Sovereign, or more precisely, the land and assets held by the Crown Estate.
Over the past few months, Plaid Cymru has run a highly effective campaign calling for the devolution of the Crown Estate. The party secured a debate in the House of Commons by tabling an amendment on the Crown Estate. At the same time, Plaid councillors in Conwy urged the local authority to lobby for control.
Plaid Cymru’s motives are clear: as a republican party that ultimately seeks independence, it views breaking away from the Crown Estate as a step toward its broader goal.
Their argument that control over these assets should be devolved closer to the people of Wales has an instinctive appeal. As a strong supporter of devolution—who even believes power should be distributed further away from Cardiff Bay — I can see why this argument resonates.
Worse off
However, the reality is that such a move would leave Welsh taxpayers worse off while putting our beaches and natural resources at financial risk.
Plaid Cymru points to Scotland, where the Crown Estate was devolved in 2017. However, Scotland’s government does not own these assets outright; they remain under the monarch’s control and are merely managed by Crown Estate Scotland.
Moreover, devolution came at a cost. Scotland’s block grant was initially reduced by £6.6 million annually, rising to £40 million from 2028-29. This financial adjustment means Scotland must cover the Crown Estate’s costs from its own budget.
Devolving the Crown Estate would require setting up new governance structures and increasing administrative costs. Scotland’s experience has shown that devolution reduces efficiency and profitability, forcing public funds to cover maintenance and development expenses. For example, funds from the ScotWind auction, intended for renewables, were redirected to plug budget shortfalls.
Revenue
The Crown Estate’s UK-wide revenue pooling system ensures that even if Welsh assets underperform, they still benefit from overall returns from the rest of the UK.
Devolution would remove this safety net, exposing Wales to financial volatility. When Ynys Môn’s MP Llinos Medi claims that “millions generated on the Welsh Crown Estate is taken out of Wales,” she overlooks the benefits of the UK-wide model, which guarantees stable returns.
The MP for Dwyfor Meirionnydd, Liz Saville Roberts, suggests that the UK Government believes Wales is “too small and too poor” to manage the Crown Estate.
This is misleading. The real issue is whether a devolved system would be financially viable without UK-wide investment and risk-sharing.
Conwy Councillor Nia Owen claims the Crown Estate “benefits from council taxpayers.” However, the Crown Estate generated £1.1 billion in net revenue profit in 2023/24, with Welsh assets valued at £853 million—just 5.3% of the total £16 billion portfolio.
This revenue is pooled centrally, ensuring Wales enjoys stable financial returns.
The Plaid Cymru councillors in Conwy, in coalition with Welsh Labour and Conwy Independents, voted for a 9% council tax increase—bringing the total rise to 30% over three years.
Meanwhile, Llinos Medi’s own council, where she served as leader until last June, is about to approve an 8.5% increase, amounting to an 18.5% rise over three years.
Benefits
Similarly, Liz Saville Robert’s Gwynedd Council has approved an 8.66% increase this year, totalling a 22.7% rise over three years. Yet, despite these significant tax hikes, services continue to be cut. Adding the financial burden of managing Crown Estate assets would strain budgets further.
The UK-wide Crown Estate model benefits Wales through revenue stability, specialist asset management, and access to global investment for large-scale projects.
A devolved system would require a new Welsh administrative body, increasing taxpayer costs and financial risks.
Conwy, Ynys Môn, Gwynedd and other Welsh councils benefit from Crown Estate investments without bearing administrative burdens.
Devolving the estate would increase costs, necessitate external expertise, and risk lower revenues.
Contrary to claims of “plundering Welsh resources,” the Crown Estate ensures stability, investment, and economic security. While the heart may call for devolution, the facts show that Wales is better off as part of a unified UK structure.
Nic Conner is a freelance writer based in the Conwy Valley.
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What can I say!!! Such nonsense
Perhaps the article’s figures are correct, however, and as Scotland would very much agree – the land belongs to Cymru and the people of Cymru should benefit from any profit generated from it, regardless of the cost. I’m pretty sure that if you asked Scotland whether it regrets it’s decision the answer would be an emphatic no. Yes, it could well be expensive but it’s our land – not the monarchy’s.
Rubbish, utter rubbish. Of course an imperialist would say this sort of junk. “Everything will cost more” – that’s what they all say. Wales will get nowhere if these spanners keep prioritising their profit.
Why would we want England to manage our land when we are perfectly able to do it ourselves?
Nic is of course entitled to his opinion, and none of us should be afraid of someone taking a counter position on this issue. But just a couple of points: 1) Just like every other natural resource in Wales these estates belong to the Welsh people, and we should enjoy any financial benefits which accrue from their ownership and yes, if needs be, deal with any losses that might come from their ownership as well (however unlikely any such losses would seem to be) 2) Im also sure the billions Wales is owed from HS2 – which Wales’ former first… Read more »
Sounds like a desperate argument from a Tory was my first thought. A quick search has proved that it is.
Please explain exactly what The UK-wide Crown Estate model benefits Wales through revenue stability, specialist asset management, and access to global investment for large-scale projects.
Yes, an answer to those points would be welcome. 26 counties of Ireland will not be engaging in this ridiculous debate. Twice during very hard times, it achieved the Irish Free State in the wake of WW1 and became a republic in the wake of WW2. Colonial control removed. This article is yet another clear attempt to tell us that Cymru cannot manage outside of the current scam arrangements and should be dismissed accordingly. How does Norway manage independent of Sweden since 1905? Could it be because it has full control over its’ own land rich in natural resources and… Read more »
At its most basic, devolution is about where decisions are made and where the money flows. The crown estate could be devolved to Wales without the current organisation changing at all, but acting as a shared service centre on behalf of both governments rather than just one. The fact that Scotland didn’t do this doesn’t stop Wales from doing it. We need to stop finding excuses and start finding better ways of working The electricity system in Northern Ireland is operated entirely by EireGrid in the republic, not NESO in GB, because that’s the most efficient and effective way of… Read more »
I had to check the calendar on this one, we are approaching April 1st.
We had similar drivel from England about the benefits of beating school children for speaking their native language and stealing the funds raised for the Aberfan families.
Another not so Nice Conner from England, trying to insult our intelligence.
I assume, from the nonsense he wrote, that this guy is either a Tory or a right wing Liberal. Scotland hasn’t offered to return the control of the crown estate any time soon, so it is probably safe to assume, it is beneficial to them!
Nic, Wales would only be worse off if our Royal and Westminster masters structured the devolution of our own land and property in such a way as to continue to shaft us. I’m also unsure ‘the bastards will just shaft us in a different way’ is a good argument for maintaining the status quo… I did write about the danger of this being the outcome some time ago: https://nation.cymru/opinion/the-crown-estate-trap/ But I’ll take greater devolution and autonomy every day and will keep pressing for more and more of it, on better terms, and with better structures, until we actually have the… Read more »
Welsh Councils having to pay hundreds of thousands of pounds, so that Welsh people can access our own beaches and coast land, is not justifiable. The so-called ‘Crown Estate’ is Welsh land, seabed and coast, and should be returned to the rightful owners: the Welsh people.
It’s a moral argument, not just an economic one.
“However, the reality is that such a move would leave Welsh taxpayers worse off while putting our beaches and natural resources at financial risk” How exactly? “This is misleading. The real issue is whether a devolved system would be financially viable without UK-wide investment and risk-sharing” What ‘investments’ does the crown estate make? Does it (for example) pay for the tide to come in? Does it pay for coastal defences? (No) What are the ‘risks’? “Conwy Councillor Nia Owen claims the Crown Estate “benefits from council taxpayers.”(1) However, the Crown Estate generated £1.1 billion in net revenue profit in 2023/24(2),… Read more »
The 1.1bn you refer to is England and Wales revenue. Revenue from Welsh assets within that is less than 40m. I’m afraid the author is right – less money would immediately come to Wales if devolved, due to a block grant reduction. In addition, with devolution, we would still need the help of the treasury and BEIS to negotiate contracts for differences to exploit wind energy off the coast of Wales, which has led to various delays in Scotland. The point he doesn’t make is that with devolution you can potentially do things you mightn’t be able do. Really plaid… Read more »
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Wales is the only country in the UK that does not have control their Crown Estate assets:. Shocking. ✅ Northern Ireland – Some control since 2016, but limited activity ✅ Jersey & Guernsey (Channel Islands) – Local control, not managed by the UK Crown Estate ✅ Isle of Man – Manx Government controls Crown lands independently ✅ Duchy of Cornwall (Prince of Wales) – Separate from the UK Crown Estate, directly controlled ✅ Duchy of Lancaster (Monarch’s private estate) – Separate from the Crown Estate, controlled by the King ✅ Scotland – Full control of their Crown Estate. Revenue remains… Read more »