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Garreg Fawr Energy Park Consultation Update

The non-statutory consultation for the proposed Garreg Fawr Energy Park has now closed. Over recent months, local residents, businesses and community organisations shared feedback on environmental considerations, traffic, community impacts and future engagement. This feedback will help shape the next stages of design and inform preparation for statutory consultation, planned for later this year.

Consultation overview

Our first round of non-statutory consultation for Garreg Fawr Energy Park took place between 17th September to 29th October 2025. We would like to thank everyone who took the time to provide feedback and engage with the process. Your views are a vital part of shaping the proposals as we move into the next stages of design development and preparation of the draft planning application.

Throughout the consultation period, we engaged with local communities, specialist consultants and key stakeholders to share information and gather views on the emerging proposals for the energy park.

How the community took part

People were able to take part in the consultation in several ways:

  • Feedback channels – Email, telephone lines, Freepost responses and an online survey.
  • Community drop-in event – 168 people attended a session at Llanfihangel Nant Bran Village Hall to view indicative plans, ask questions and discuss the proposals.
  • Online bilingual webinar – A virtual session allowing participants to share views remotely was attended by 18 participants

To date (27/01/26) we have received:

A total of 722 responses from stakeholders and local communities.  This included:

  • 547 responses through the online Give my View survey
  • 175 email enquiries submitted throughout the engagement period.

“We really appreciated the opportunity to meet local residents, hear your thoughts and discuss your questions. Thank you to everyone who came along and contributed — your feedback will play an important role in shaping the next steps for the Garreg Fawr Energy Park.’’

Lauren Foster – Project Manager

What we heard during the consultation

Several key themes were raised by respondents:

Traffic and access icon Traffic and access
Questions were raised around construction traffic, access routes and the potential impact of the site on local roads during the construction phase.
Tourism icon Tourism
Respondents asked whether the development could influence tourism.
National Park icon Bannau Brycheiniog National Park
Requests were received for more information on potential effects on the National Park and the surrounding areas.
Community benefits icon Community benefits
There was strong interest in community benefit opportunities and a desire for continued engagement and clear communication as the project progresses. Respondents suggested a range of potential priorities for community benefit funding, including:

  • Support for local community facilities and services
  • Investment in local infrastructure
  • Environmental and biodiversity projects
  • Skills, training and employment opportunities

Digital survey feedback

During the non-statutory consultation, a separate digital survey was held to gather wider community views.

  • Around 547 people responded
  • Respondents included local residents, businesses and community representatives
  • Participants represented a broad age range, with most living within a few miles of the proposed site

What happens next?

This consultation marks the beginning of an ongoing engagement process. We will continue to keep communities informed and provide further opportunities to have your say throughout 2026. Feedback received will help refine the proposals as we move into detailed design and prepare for statutory consultation later this year.

FAQs

What is a non-statutory consultation?

Non-statutory consultation is an early engagement stage that takes place before a formal planning application is submitted. It allows communities to share views that can help shape proposals at an early stage.

I contributed to the consultation – how will my feedback be used?

All feedback is reviewed and considered by the project team. Key themes help inform design changes, mitigation measures and future engagement plans.

What information about the plans isn’t available at this stage?

Our non-statutory consultation does not cover detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) topics and other infrastructure that would be required for the construction and operation of Garreg Fawr Energy Park, as further surveys and assessments are required to progress these.

A detailed design for all infrastructure required for Garreg Fawr Energy Park will be shared during the next stage and presented and assessed in an Environmental Statement (ES). Equally, detail on construction methodologies is not shared at this stage as these elements are still being developed and will be influenced by ongoing survey assessment and the technical studies.

When will statutory consultation take place?

Statutory consultation is expected to take place in late 2026, following further design development and technical assessments.

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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