Welsh ministers and the country’s environment regulator Natural Resources Wales (NRW) could face potential conflicts of interest now Innogy Renewables has been asked to develop plans for an onshore wind farm on land at Alwen Forest straddling the border between Conwy and Denbighshire.

The land involved is leased to the Welsh government by Dwr Cymru Welsh Water and is managed on behalf of the devolved administration by NRW. Should a planning application be made, NRW has said it will act in an advisory capacity during the determination process.