Senedd Committee criticises Welsh Government over Gilestone Farm purchase failings
Senedd Committee criticises Welsh Government over Gilestone Farm purchase failings
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The Welsh Government’s controversial purchase of Gilestone Farm has come under renewed scrutiny, with a Senedd committee calling for urgent reforms in the way public acquisitions are handled.
A report published today (28 July) by the Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee has raised “serious concerns” over governance, due diligence, and the quality of community engagement involved in the £4.25 million acquisition.
The Welsh Government says Gilestone Farm was acquired following proper processes and in keeping with market values at the time.
The farm, located near Talybont-on-Usk in Powys, was purchased in March 2022 to support the future of the nearby Green Man Festival. However, the Committee concluded that the decision was rushed to meet year-end budget deadlines—an approach they warn led to “avoidable mistakes” and contributed to a £500,000 drop in the asset’s value.
“The Committee is deeply concerned by the Welsh Government’s handling of the purchase of Gilestone Farm,” said Mark Isherwood MS, Chair of the Committee. “While we recognise the importance of acting swiftly to support the creative sector, this decision was taken with avoidable haste and without the thorough due diligence that the public rightly expects.”
He added: “It raises serious questions about internal processes and the robustness of governance structures.”
The report also points to wider failures in how communities were consulted during the acquisition process.
“The Welsh Government must do more to ensure that communities are not only consulted but genuinely listened to,” Isherwood continued. “Engagement must be meaningful, inclusive, and consistent.”
With the farm’s value having dropped to an estimated £3.75 million, the Committee is demanding that the Welsh Government clarify its long-term plans for the site and outline how it will mitigate the financial loss to taxpayers.
In its concluding remarks, the Committee signalled its intent to investigate further, warning that this case may reflect systemic issues in how the government handles property investments.
“To ensure lessons are learned,” Isherwood said, “the Committee will want to carry out further work looking at the Welsh Government’s approach to property investments, to assess whether current processes are sufficiently rigorous and fit for purpose.”
The Welsh Government says: “Gilestone Farm was acquired in 2022, following proper processes and in keeping with market values at the time, in order to support the growth of the Creative Sector in Wales and a stronger Mid-Wales economy.
“We were delighted to learn in August 2023 of the arrival of the pair of mating ospreys, which returned in 2024, and again this year. Their first egg hatched in early June 2025. This is believed to be a first for the Usk Valley in at least 250 years and marks an important milestone in the protection of this important species.
“The arrival of the ospreys necessarily impacted on the planned use of the farm, and the original project had to be stopped. Gilestone remains one of the Welsh Government’s property assets, and is being managed on our behalf as a working farm. We continue to explore potential opportunities for its future use, in keeping with our commitment to seek a sustainable outcome that helps local communities thrive.
“We will read the Committee’s report with interest, and respond in due course.”
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