Major update issued on another energy project in Mid Wales

The clock has started ticking on yet another energy project in Powys.

Earlier this month, the consultation for the Aberedw Energy Park, which is classed as a Development of National Significance (DNS), went live.

This means that Welsh Government planning inspectors at Planning and Environment Decisions Wales have started work processing the application.

Inspectors will eventually recommend to Welsh Government ministers whether to approve the scheme.

The proposal by Bute Energy is for 18 wind turbines with a maximum blade tip height of 200 metres to be built on Aberedw Hill, three kilometres east of Builth Wells.

The application includes the need for “secondary consents”, which are the deregistration and exchange of common land areas at Aberedw Hills and Hungry Green Common.

Secondary consent is also needed to allow restricted works to take place on the common land.

PEDW said: “The application has been submitted to the Welsh ministers for examination.

“It is considered to contain all essential supporting documents, and the necessary fees have been paid in full; as such, it is a valid application, and the examination period will now commence.

“The inspector’s report will be submitted to the Welsh ministers within 24 weeks of the date of this letter.”

This means that a decision on the application could be made as early as mid-April next year.

Powys County Council, as the local planning authority, will now need to display site notices on or near the land for 30 days.

Powys County Council can comment on this type of application by producing a Local Impact Report (LIR) on the proposal.

The LIR is the authority’s chance to feed into the consultation process and explains what Powys planners think planning inspectors should consider when deciding the application.

In the LIR, the council does not give a formal opinion on the proposal but outlines the potential pros and cons of the development, labelling them as either positive, neutral or negative.

Bute Energy said: “We chose this location because of its technical and environmental suitability and optimal wind speeds.

“The proposed development could produce up to approximately 120MW (megawatts) of clean energy – enough to power between 86,000 and 113,000 homes.

“The park’s Community Benefit Fund would deliver up to approximately £900,000 to support groups, projects and places in the community.”

The deadline for comments and the submission of the LIR is December 7.