November 19, 2015
Wales

23 turbines to be built in Radnorshire

Jonny Drury | County Times | 19 November 2015 | www.countytimes.co.uk

The High Court has upheld permission granting a 23 turbine wind farm to be built on the Radnorshire Hills.

This week, energy company RES, welcomed the news that the High Court had decided to uphold planning permission for Garreg Lwyd Hill Wind Farm following a legal challenge submitted by Powys County Council (PCC) in June 2015.

The application had previously been passed by the Welsh Government, following a legal challenge, and Chris Jackson, RES development manager for the wind farm, between Felindre and Llanbadarn Fynydd, is confident it will be an asset to the local area.

He said: “RES has always been confident that our proposed wind farm will be a positive asset at both a national and local level and we are delighted that the Welsh Government and now the High Court support this view.

“We have been determined not to let the challenge process lead to any undue delay in delivering this important project for Mid Wales, and so we have been working hard over the last few months to discharge as many planning conditions as possible.

“RES will now redouble our engagement with local communities and their elected representatives, to work together to ensure that both the economic and environmental benefits this renewable energy project will bring to the area are maximised and that Garreg Lwyd Hill Wind Farm becomes a genuine asset to the area throughout its lifetime.”

However Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies, who has campaigned against wind farms in Mid Wales, said the Welsh Government doesn’t care about the area.

He said: “RES has declared war on the people of Montgomeryshire.

“The Welsh Government doesn’t care about the people of Mid Wales and will pass anything.”

RES believes the development will bring employment, both directly and indirectly to the local area, and will also generate an annual community benefits package totalling £153,000 per year upon full operation of the wind farm.

This includes a Community Benefit Fund to support local projects, in addition to RES’ innovative Local Electricity Discount Scheme (LEDS) which offers nearest neighbours at least £100 off their annual electricity bill.

Construction is expected to begin in early 2016 and will take between 12 and 18 months to complete.

Once operational the wind farm will be capable of generating sufficient electricity to meet the average needs of approximately 23,000 homes according to the energy company.

A Powys County Council spokesman said: “The council is aware of the decision and is currently considering its position.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/11/19/23-turbines-to-built-in-radnorshire/