Garreg Fawr Energy Park

This marks the first time we share our initial plans for the energy park. At this stage, we can provide basic information, such as the likely number of turbines and the general location. Importantly, we want to involve local residents and communities from the outset, so we welcome early views and feedback that could help shape the plans as they develop.

This is an important early milestone in developing the project. The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a central document which sets out all of the surveys, assessments and reports we undertake to inform the design of the proposed energy park and ensure that we’re minimising potential environmental impacts. This process takes several months, and we must ensure that we assess all necessary environmental considerations. At this point we submit an overview of how we intend to undertake this work, and which surveys and assessments we’ll include. Through its ‘Scoping Direction’, (normally in the form of a letter), the department responsible for planning at Welsh Government (PEDW) will then tell us whether our proposed approach to delivering this is appropriate, and if we need to take any other issues into account.

This is our first round of consultations. During this stage, we continue carrying out environmental surveys and assessments to inform the draft Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). At the same time, we begin shaping the design of the proposed energy park. To do this, we hold an ‘informal’ consultation round, where we present early proposals and invite feedback from communities, stakeholders and consultees. It’s known as ‘non-statutory’ consultation, because we aren’t required to undertake it, and we won’t yet have all the details about the plans – however we see great value in presenting our early plans in order to help inform the design process.

This is the formal consultation required before we submit our application. At this stage we’ll have a full ‘Draft’ Environmental Statement (ES), which sets out the conclusions of all the surveys and assessments we’ll have carried out, in line with PEDW’s Scoping Direction. We conduct a formal consultation for a period of at least 42 days. This consultation is a requirement before we can submit an application, which is why it is called ‘statutory consultation’. We’ll post formal notices in the paper and around the site, and notify relevant consultees, for example Natural Resources Wales and other environmental or technical consultees, local councillors and community councils, and those owning neighbouring land or living nearby. We’ll also host consultation events both in-person and online to present our proposed plans, before we submit them to PEDW for consideration.

At this stage we will submit our application. Once we have completed the statutory consultation, we’ll review all feedback and produce a Pre-Application Consultation (PAC) Report. The Report will set out the feedback received and explain how it has shaped the final plans. If we’re unable to act on certain points, we’ll provide clear reasons why. This report, alongside the full suite of application documents will then be submitted to PEDW for consideration – which will then make decision on whether or not to accept the application to commence the Examination process.