Withyhedge Landfill permit variation approved with stronger environmental protections

A detailed and rigorous assessment by NRW of a permit variation application for Withyhedge Landfill in Pembrokeshire has secured stronger regulatory controls and enhanced environmental protection measures.

NRW has approved a variation to the environmental permit operated by Resources Management UK Ltd (RML).

The approved variation has secured improvements to landfill gas management, leachate management, cell completion and ongoing monitoring requirements, strengthening regulation of the site and protection for the environment and local communities.

Nicholas Bettinson, Permitting Service Manager at NRW, said:

"This decision follows a detailed and rigorous assessment of the application, technical evidence, environmental risks and consultation responses.

"The approved variation has secured stronger regulatory controls and enhanced environmental protection measures at the site, strengthening protection for both the environment and local communities.

"We recognise the impact previous odour issues had on local communities and understand why people feel strongly. “Our role is to regulate in line with the law. Where an application meets the required standards, we are obliged to issue the permit. 

“We will continue to closely regulate and monitor the site and take action where necessary."

The assessment considered technical evidence, relevant environmental risks, legal requirements and responses received through public consultation.

NRW recognises the strength of feeling within local communities and is grateful for the significant number of responses received from individuals, community groups and stakeholders. All consultation responses were carefully reviewed and considered as part of the assessment process.

Some concerns raised during consultation were outside the scope of the permit determination process and could not legally be taken into account when making the decision. While NRW recognises these concerns are important to local communities, environmental law limits the factors that can influence permit decisions.

Following its assessment, NRW concluded that the application met the requirements of the Environmental Permitting Regulations and the legal tests NRW is required to apply. Where those requirements are met, NRW is legally required to issue the permit.

The approved changes to the existing permit include:

• Revised pre-settlement levels.

• Modified management and monitoring programmes for groundwater, surface water and leachate.

• The addition of 50,000 tonnes suitable waste soil and stone per year for restoration under a new Waste Recovery to support restoration of the site in line with a restoration plan approved in writing by NRW.

• We took this opportunity to consolidate and modernise the permit, including a review of existing Improvement Conditions and Pre-operational Conditions

Our investigation into environmental permit breaches is on-going and is being conducted separately by the Industry Regulations team.

You can find more details from our dedicated web page, updated from 12noon today (1 October 2026), including links to the full details of the decision, and a summary of consultation responses and our consideration of them.