Charlotte Church's forest school set up without permission on pig farm faces closure
Singer Charlotte Church's 'Awen Project' forest school faces potential closure after being denied retrospective planning permission for its site on a former pig farm. Local authorities cited environmental concerns, noise, and safety issues as reasons for the refusal.
Why it matters
The case highlights the tension between alternative educational initiatives and local land-use regulations and environmental protection standards.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Charlotte Church founded the Awen Project with her husband Jonathan Powell in 2019, hoping to "transform education" for children
A forest school set up by singer Charlotte Church on a former pig farm might have to close because of environmental fears.
The Awen Project opened in 2024 without planning permission in Wenvoe, Vale of Glamorgan.
The singer, who appeared on series one of Celebrity Traitors , applied for retrospective permission in October 2025 , but that was refused.
The council raised concerns over the noise, impact on residents, and dangers to pedestrians because of insufficient parking. It also said the project failed to show how it would "conserve and enhance green infrastructure".
Church refused to comment, but has appealed to the Welsh government's Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW).
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