Clash Over £1 Million Farmhouse: Off-Grid Group Stands Firm Against Relocation Demand

In an old Welsh farmhouse, friends gather to share laughter, stories, and a homemade lunch of soup and sourdough. Despite the convivial atmosphere, a contentious legal battle unfolds behind closed doors.

Brithdir Mawr, an 80-acre farm in Newport, Pembrokeshire that has been home to an off-grid community for three decades, was recently sold to a new owner who plans to transform it into a retreat center. The community received eviction notices and some members departed by the end of December’s deadline; however, others chose to stay resilient.

The group maintains there are no “bad people” involved in this situation but hopes for an amicable resolution with Brithdir Mawr’s new owner, Will Gilam. “Essentially I feel really, really sad about it,” said Rosie Gilam. She expressed hope that all parties could come together and search for a solution “with an open heart.”

Will is confident in finding a resolution to this complex issue: “I don’t know exactly what that would look like and that’s OK,” he stated. “This complexity and this difficulty feels very difficult, feels gnarly and unpleasant, but also I truly believe that something very special is happening.”

The farm’s new owner hopes media attention on Brithdir Mawr will spark a conversation about land rights, which could lead to systemic change such as the community right to buy. This would enable groups like this one in the future to have the right to purchase assets.