The Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) supporting the planning application has undertaken a detailed assessment of key viewpoints within a 28km radius study area of the site, in consultation with the Council’s landscape expert. Every home within 2.1 km of turbines has also been assessed in detail from a residential visual amenity perspective.

The proposed 30 turbine layout, in comparison to the original 36, delivers an improvement in terms of landscape and visual effects, in particular in residential visual amenity impacts on properties to the north, west and south of the site where the nearest homes are located.

The site has been extensively surveyed by the project team and 17 previously unrecorded historic assets identified, in addition to a detailed assessment of the known undesignated assets and scheduled monuments. The site has interesting history stretching from the bronze age in the form of funerary mounds through to less well-known use of the site as a Second World War ‘battle school’.

We have worked to avoid direct physical effects on any undesignated or designated heritage assets. Our design maintains ‘lines of sight’ between the three scheduled funerary mound monuments, where it is believed there was a visual relationship between them.

During construction, we will appoint an Archaeological Clerk of Works who will closely monitor construction activities and ensure that in the unlikely event that any previously unknown heritage assets are discovered, these are recorded and protected on site during construction.

Through our Strategic Recreation Framework there is an opportunity to create a ‘heritage trail’ using a network of signage and information points to bring awareness of the fascinating cultural heritage of the site, including using augmented and virtual reality technology.

The project will deliver net benefit for biodiversity over its lifetime, including through creating ponds, restoring stream and river edge habitats, native tree planting, controlling bracken and managing grazing. Our plans include measures such as hedgerow creation and the planting of approximately 10 hectares of broadleaf woodland to benefit species such as bats and birds.

Over two years of surveys have been conducted across the site, including vantage point, breeding bird, breeding raptor (bird of prey), breeding nightjar and winter walkover surveys. This has recorded the range of species using the site, as well as concentrating on species at potential collision risk, such as red kite. A healthy population of red kite has been identified in the area.

To minimise collision risk, where red kite are most active turbines have been removed and moved and a 50m ground to lower edge blade swept area has also been maintained at certain turbine locations. Habitat will also be managed to discourage red kite activity near turbines.

We have consulted with the Civil Aviation Authority, National Air Traffic Services and Ministry of Defence to inform our proposals.

Due to the height of the turbines, they will need aviation safety lighting. This has been designed so that lighting is minimised, meaning less than half of the turbines would be lit. Those lights would be at the minimal intensity for 88% of the time and directional lighting will also be used so that the intensity is reduced even further when viewed from below.

We have carried out noise monitoring around the site and an impact assessment has been undertaken in accordance with relevant legislation and current best practice in consultation with Powys County Council to establish noise limits to safeguard residential amenity. Any planning permission will be subject to a noise limits condition, and we would not exceed these noise limits.

During construction phase noise would be temporary and will be managed through a Construction Environmental Management Plan including a restriction on working hours.

At this stage, the abnormal loads for the Energy Park could come from either the north or the south of the site, therefore provision is made for two options for the site access junction off the A44 on the south-western edge of the site. Whilst consent is sought for both options, only one will be constructed.

Any works required to facilitate the delivery of the turbine components and other abnormal loads do not form part of this DNS application but may need separate planning permission in some instances. This would be made in consultation with the relevant Local Authority.

A series of studies have been undertaken of the site in order to provide a detailed understanding of the current water environment and ground conditions. This included desk-based assessments and several phases of fieldwork. Soils were investigated by probing the ground and sampling taken in thousands of locations across the site and water features have been thoroughly mapped.

Detailed Soil, Surface Water and Construction Environmental Management Plans will be agreed with expert stakeholders prior to work starting on site, covering both construction and operation.

There are many private water supplies on the site. These can be managed through standard practices in the majority of instance, including suitable permanent drainage design, construction-phase controls for pollution and sediment, a water quality monitoring plan, clear and frequent communication and liaison with the relevant landowners, and a series of emergency measures to address any impacts, in the unlikely event that they occur.

Potential shadow flicker at local residential properties has been assessed and considered. Shadow flicker is an effect that can be accurately predicted, mitigation such as vegetation planting can be used to shield properties and turbines can be set not to operate during these periods.