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Banc Du and Rhiwlas Energy Parks planning applications submitted.

Planning applications for Banc Du Energy Park and Rhiwlas Energy Park, proposed in Powys, mid Wales, were submitted to Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW) on 23 December 2025. If approved by Welsh Ministers, the projects would deliver renewable electricity for homes across Wales, alongside long-term community benefits, local investment and environmental enhancements.

Supporting clean, resilient energy in Powys

If approved by Welsh Ministers, Banc Du Energy Park will include up to six wind turbines generating up to 40MW of clean, green energy, enough to power the equivalent of approximately 38,000 households per annum. Meanwhile, Rhiwlas Energy Park will include up to twelve wind turbines generating up to 80MW of clean, green energy, enough to power the equivalent of approximately 71,200 households per annum.

Our projects respond to the Climate Emergency and will help local communities live modern electric lives, while supporting the Welsh Government’s target for electricity to be 100% renewable by 2035.

What are the benefits of Banc Du and Rhiwlas Energy Parks to the community?

Both Banc Du and Rhiwlas Energy Parks will deliver significant benefits to the local community including a combined annual Community Benefit Fund of up to £900,000.

Our Community Benefit Fund will provide local groups, charities, and services with funding to sustain their work and create new innovative projects that benefit local people.

Informed by engagement with local people and stakeholders, community benefit funding will focus on creating healthier, wealthier communities by supporting recreational, health and wellbeing improvements, enhancing the local education offering and identifying more pathways into employment for local people. It will also highlight opportunities to celebrate and promote local culture, heritage, and biodiversity.

What’s changed in the design since statutory consultation.

Since our statutory pre-application consultation in spring 2025, we have made the following design changes to our proposals, including:

Banc Du Energy Park:

  • Turbine 1 has been reduced in tip height of from 200m to 180m to reduce residential visual amenity (RVA) impacts; and
  • Turbine 6 and the associated crane pad have been moved east to avoid a bat buffer area and a heritage asset.

Rhiwlas Energy Park:

  • Turbine 13 has been removed to avoid potential RVA impacts as well as bat and woodland buffer zones;
  • Turbine 3 has been relocated to reduce potential RVA impacts;
  • The access track to Turbine 3 has been realigned to avoid an area of peaty soil;
  • The access track to Turbine 7 has been realigned to avoid a heritage asset; and
  • Turbine 12 has been re-sited to improve the overall spacing between proposed turbines.

“We’re pleased to have submitted our planning applications for Banc Du and Rhiwlas Energy Parks. The design of both Parks have evolved through constructive feedback from the local community and other stakeholders, that has seen a reduction in the number of turbines, and a change in location of some of the turbines, to reduce impacts on nearby communities. We look forward to working closely with PEDW as they consider our applications.”

Senior Project Manager Alasdair Adey

What are the next steps?

PEDW is currently reviewing the applications to ensure all required information has been submitted. Once accepted, the documents will be available to view on the PEDW Casework Portal. PEDW will then start its own five-week consultation which will be your final opportunity to give your views on the proposals.

Want to know more?

Take a look at how we’re setting up our Community Benefit Fund for our energy parks.

Learn more
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