Decision due on Mid Wales wind farms plans

The proposals to build wind farms at Llanbrynmair and Carnedd Wen were thrown out by the government last year, but could be reprieved, with inspectors currently looking at representations from councils, developers and energy companies.

With consultation set to close on Tuesday, the government expert looking at the plans said Secretary of State Greg Clark will soon decide whether to reopen the inquiry or make a decision on the plans from the written statements handed in.

In September last year both plans were thrown out by the Department for Energy and Climate Change – prompting celebrations from anti-wind farm campaigners.

However, the two developers behind the plans – RWE Innogy and RES – called for a judicial review when the decisions were quashed in December, meaning both applications now need to be re-determined.

Option to comment

Giles Scott, head of energy infrastructure planning and coal liabilities, said a "statement of matters" setting out the current situation had been sent out earlier this year, inviting representations from all of the interested parties.

Now, parties are being given the option to comment on the other representations.

Mr Scott said: "Following completion of this further round of consultation, the Secretary of State will consider all the representations received, the comments on those representations and other relevant information, including the information already available and anticipates then being in a position either to: i) re-determine the applications on the basis of the written representations and information received; or ii) decide to re-open the public inquiry."

The two developments had sparked a number of objections along with protests and campaigns.

A total of 30 turbines are planned for Llanbrynmair and 50 turbines at Carnedd Wen to form part of one large windfarm stretching 8km north to south and being 4.5km wide in some places.

At the time of the High Court ruling, quashing the decisions to turn down the wind farms, RWE Innogy UK said in a statement that it "remains convinced that this is one of the best remaining locations for a windfarm in Wales".

Tim French, RES's head of projects for England and Wales, added that it "welcomed" the decision.