Public consultation launches on further plans for Kenson River restoration following weir removal
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is inviting the public to take part in conversations on proposals to restore a section of the Kenson River on the Fonmon Estate near Llancarfan in the Vale of Glamorgan.
The pre-application consultation opens on 19 February 2026 and will run until 19 March 2026, giving local residents, communities, landowners and stakeholders the opportunity to learn more about the project and provide feedback before the planning application is submitted.
As part of the consultation, NRW will hold a public drop‑in event at Llancarfan Community Hall on 2 March, from 1pm to 6pm, where members of the project team will be available to answer questions and discuss the proposed designs.
The Kenson River is important for key species including otter, water vole and sea trout, but has been deepened and straightened over the last century. These changes have reduced habitat diversity and disconnected the river from its floodplain.
The current restoration proposals along a 2.5km stretch of the river aim to:
- Reinstate the natural meandering course of the river
- Restore natural geomorphological processes
- Add around 450m of new river habitat
- Improve water quality and sediment transport
- Increase floodplain connectivity across 20 hectares
- Enhance habitat for species including European eels, otters, water voles, invertebrates and aquatic plants
- Support wider nature recovery and rewilding efforts at the Fonmon Estate
The project represents the next phase of improvements following the successful removal of the Kenson Weir in summer 2025, which immediately improved fish passage and restored river connectivity upstream.
Nathalie Nicolaus, River Restoration Programme Advisor for NRW said:
“The Kenson River Restoration Project is a significant opportunity to restore natural river processes, improve local biodiversity and reconnect the community with a healthier, more resilient river.
“The removal of the weir is already a major step towards improving ecological connectivity from the Severn Estuary upstream, directly supporting key species such as sea trout, eels, brook and river lamprey.
“We encourage residents and stakeholders to look what further improvements we’re proposing and to take part in the consultation, attend the drop‑in session, and share their views before we finalise the planning application.”
Following the consultation, responses will be reviewed and considered as the final planning application is prepared for submission later in 2026. Subject to planning approval, construction is expected to begin in summer 2026.
Full details of the plans and how to respond will be available from 19 February on NRW’s Kenson River Restoration webpage.
NRW is working closely with the Fonmon Estate and a range of partners including local landowners, tenant farmers, Tarmac, National Grid, the Vale of Glamorgan Council and heritage specialists Heneb to develop and deliver the project.
The scheme has been designed by JBA Consulting and is funded by the Welsh Government’s Nature and Climate Emergency Capital Programme, which supports a number of environmental priorities including river restoration, metal mine remediation, fisheries and water quality.