Our studies to date show that the site at Garreg Fawr Energy Park has excellent exposure to wind resources and has technical and environmental suitability.

Our initial proposal is to deliver up to a maximum of 22 turbines on the site. However, this will be subject to refinement as we get more information from our technical assessments (such as environmental impact, visual impact, and noise modelling) and surveys, as well as in response to feedback from community, specialist consultees and other stakeholders.

We are still at a very early stage of identifying the best routes to ensure that traffic travelling to and from the site can do so safely and with minimal impact to the wider road network.

The detailed design of the energy park will evolve over the coming months, taking account of feedback from communities and statutory consultees, as well as ongoing environmental and technical assessments.

As the generating capacity of the proposed energy park is more than 10MW of energy, it falls under the planning category known as a Development of National Significance (DNS).

DNS applications are submitted to Welsh Government Ministers to decide via Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW).  Local stakeholders and residents will therefore be able to provide their views at multiple stages of the planning process, including the pre-application and determination phases. The planned submission date for the DNS application is 2026.

Anyone can have their say on the proposals at this time by taking Bute’s short survey using the feedback platform Give My View. In addition to using Give My View at this early stage we will be out meeting with members of the public over the coming months. We will be writing to the residents and businesses living nearest to the site with more detailed information in the coming months to gather feedback on the project design in a community survey. Project information and the survey will be available on the website.

Bute Energy will undertake statutory consultation with local communities, specialist consultees and other stakeholders in mid 2026 before submission of an application for a Development of National Significance in autumn 2026. Local residents will be able to make representations during the examination and determination phases undertaken by PEDW and Welsh Ministers.

As part of our development stage, we will be carrying out a noise assessment that will be submitted to PEDW.  This will outline the noise that would be expected to be generated by the energy park in the context of the wider background noise from across the site and surrounding area.

To receive planning permission, we will need to demonstrate that the proposed turbines would meet the national guidelines for noise emissions. This also applies to work during the construction phase, and noise during this time will be closely managed and mitigated as much as possible through controlled measures, these include established work hours, noise management programmes, and delivery timings.

It is common for farmers to continue rearing livestock and / or growing crops on land where wind turbines are located. There are many examples of land next to and below wind turbines being used for a range of recreational activities, from walking and running, to cycling and horse riding.

During the construction period there would need to be managed access and limitations placed on the types of activities which could take place across the site.  However, once construction is complete and the energy park is operational, activities which take place on the site will be able to return to normal.

Early draft plans include the closest turbine tower to be located approx. 3km north of the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park boundary. The Sennybridge Military Training Area (SENTA) is located immediately north and west of the site, situated on the Mynydd Epynt Commons, which is registered common land with rights for graziers and classified as ‘open land’ under the Countryside & Rights of Way Act (2000).

As part of the preparation of our application to PEDW we will be assessing in depth the impact of the project across a range of areas, including things like the environment and visibility. Where any impacts are identified, we will seek to mitigate these as much as possible.

We will be seeking to engage with bodies like Natural Resources Wales (NRW), the National Park Authority and the MOD early in our consultation process so that we are able to incorporate their views and feedback into our plans before submission.

Bute Energy is committed to maximising the use of local supply chains and businesses to ensure that the investment, jobs and training potential of the project is maximised. We would encourage local business owners who are interested in future procurement opportunities to contact us with any enquiries.

We are currently at a very early stage of our project, however we would be keen to use the pre-application and determination phases to build up a network of local suppliers which would be taken forward into the project’s procurement phase, subject to receiving planning permission.

To address the lack of grid capacity and to enable new Welsh renewable energy projects to connect to the electricity network, Green GEN Cymru are developing a new 132kV grid connection – the Towy Usk Grid Connection. Towy Usk is a separate project being developed by Green GEN Cymru and subject to sperate planning consent. More details can be found at: https://greengentowyusk.com/

Green GEN Cymru have publicised their early proposals on their website, more information can be found here: Our Proposals – Green GEN Cymru You find keep track of Green GEN Cymru’s plans on their website: www.greengentowyusk.com

We are still at a very early stage of identifying the best routes to ensure that traffic travelling to and from the site can do so safely and with minimal impact to the wider road network.

As part of the design process, we assess route options for access for both abnormal load deliveries and construction traffic, considering all environmental constraints and minimising impacts as much as possible. Access tracks and roads would need upgrading or constructing as part of the scheme. The detail of what would be required is not yet confirmed because the environmental surveys are ongoing which means the design of the park is still a work in progress.

Should we be given planning permission, we will agree a detailed Construction Environmental Management Plan and Traffic Management Plan with the Local Authority before construction begins. Dyfed Powys Police are also consulted on the transport of abnormal loads.

If we need to do any extra work to move abnormal loads, we’d agree this with the local planning and highway authorities before applying for the required separate permissions.

We understand that there are concerns around disruption caused by construction works and, as part of the design process, we are aiming to minimise disruption as much as possible. This is achieved by assessing route options for access for both abnormal load deliveries and construction traffic, whilst considering all environmental constraints. Access tracks and roads would need upgrading or constructing as part of the project, but the detail of what would need to happen isn’t yet confirmed as surveys and assessments are ongoing and the design is at an early stage.

More information on which assessments we’ll carry out and what they’ll help inform:

• Any road upgrades would be informed by swept path analysis, with works only happening where it’s really needed. Swept path analysis is a technique used to evaluate the space required for vehicles to navigate turns and manoeuvres safely.
• Any road widening needed to be carried out would stay for the life of the project. We’d avoid affecting existing hedgerows wherever we can. If we can’t avoid it, we’d keep impacts to a minimum and restore or replace hedgerows at our cost.
• We don’t yet know how much extra traffic the project may generate, as this depends on the design we take forward. Before any surveys are carried out, we’ll agree the approach with key consultees and use specialists to complete the work.
• We’ll assess all potential environmental impacts — including noise, dust, HGVs and abnormal loads – through the Environmental Impact Assessment. Where impacts can’t be avoided, we’ll set out clear steps to minimise them. All findings will be published in the Environmental Statement, and the full draft planning application will be available during Statutory Consultation in mid-2026.

We’re still collecting all the information about Private Water Supplies, and we’ve requested information from Powys County Council. If needed, we’ll carry out additional surveys in the area (with landowner permission).

We will assess all the information once gathered to understand how each water supply is connected to the proposed energy park in terms of hydrology. This will enable us to establish whether there is any potential risk and, if a risk is identified, we would put mitigation in place.

Measures to protect water quality during construction will be set out in an outline Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) at the draft planning application stage, scheduled for 2026. As is standard practice, any planning permission would include conditions requiring a detailed CEMP and a Water Quality Monitoring Plan to be agreed with the local authority and Natural Resources Wales (NRW) before any work begins.

Alongside private water supplies, the Geology, Hydrology and Hydrogeology chapter of the Environmental Statement will also assess hydrological links between the proposed energy park and any licensed water abstractions. We’ll work with Natural Resources Wales to identify these abstractions, and any risks or mitigation requirements will be clarified as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment.

Our approach to community engagement goes beyond what is outlined by planning rules. It’s important to us that our projects are developed safely, responsibly, and with early community input. During consultation periods (both non-statutory and statutory) we:

– meet with community representatives
– host in-person consultation events
– host online webinars
– advertise in local papers and signpost to invite feedback to our plans
– run a digital survey to ensure a wider response, and much, much more.

Outside of consultation periods, we aim to directly respond to queries as quick as possible. During consultation periods, the volume of feedback often means that we can’t individually respond to each piece of feedback. However, we also find that many common themes arise during consultations, therefore, we update our website with information to keep as many people as possible up to date, including our FAQs section.

Community input plays a crucial role in the planning process. During the non-statutory consultation, all feedback is recorded and reviewed in our Consultation Report. This will help shape the early Garreg Fawr proposals and ensure that local impacts are properly considered.

In the statutory consultation stage, feedback will again be recorded and reviewed in a Pre-Application Consultation (PAC) Report, which will be submitted to Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW) when we’re ready to make our application for planning permission. PEDW will take this into account alongside environmental, technical, and policy factors. While community opinion is not the only consideration in the final decision, it is an important influence on how the proposals are refined and ensures that local priorities are recognised.

Our dedicated community investment team will also meet with local organisations and charities to help shape our social value investment and inform the local panel which will be set up to deliver the community benefit fund.

The Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations require us to assess cumulative effects which might arise from this proposal, as well as our other proposals in the area, and other nearby developments. It is, therefore, accounted for in the planning and consultation process, and more detail can be found in the Scoping Report we’ll receive from PEDW on what we need to assess and survey in the environment.
Our assessments would include
– Landscape and visual impact
– Ecological surveys
– Transport, including construction traffic
Once our Environmental Impact Assessments have been completed, you’ll be able to find our reports on cumulative effects in each section of the technical chapters of the Environmental Statement. Since proposals in the area are evolving all the time, we will confirm which other developments need to be included in the cumulative assessment after discussing this with the relevant consultees.

We carry out a Carbon Balance Assessment for each of our projects, calculating the carbon cost of constructing and operating the Energy Park relative to the energy generation and ‘carbon payback’ over the predicted 40-year operational lifetime of the project. This assessment will be carried out for the Garreg Fawr Energy Park ahead of our planned Statutory Consultation in Spring 2026.

Technology has advanced significantly since many of the existing operational wind energy parks were constructed, and innovation continues at pace.

Larger turbines can deliver greater installed capacity and therefore require fewer turbines to generate larger amounts of energy than we otherwise could with smaller turbines. This can also deliver reduced environmental impacts.

New machines are also more efficient at generating energy under different weather conditions and over a longer period. They are engineered to be quieter than existing smaller models.

Please note that the current indicative maximum height proposed for the project is 220m. There is further assessment and design work to be undertaken before a final turbine tip height is submitted for planning approval and ultimately selected for installation.

Approximately 1,000 metres cubed concrete is required per turbine. This varies depending on the turbine tip height, supplier and ground conditions. Due to the early design stage of the project, we do not have exact amounts. The calculations completed as part of the design will be available in the Environmental Statement when submitted for statutory consultation, which is targeted for mid 2026.

As part of our proposals for the energy park, we’re committed to not only protect but also enhance habitats for local wildlife across the site.

At this early stage in the project, extensive ecological surveys and peat surveys are underway to assess peat on site, habitats and species, including birds and mammals. This will guide turbine locations and help identify any mitigation or biodiversity enhancement measures needed.

Published for our statutory consultation, the assessment of the impacts on peat, ecology and ornithology will be covered in the Environmental Statement. These consider the baseline and value of the existing peat, ecology and ornithology on site and assesses the potential impacts. As set out in Planning Policy Wales (2024), the overarching principle for protecting the environment will be followed – this is to avoid, minimise and/or mitigate and, as a last resort, compensate for impacts on habitats and species.

Projects are required by planning policy to demonstrate how they will deliver a Net Benefit for Biodiversity. Once all surveys are complete and potential impacts are understood, appropriate enhancement measures will be identified and included in a Habitat Management Plan. These measures will be discussed with the relevant consultees, including Natural Resources Wales and Powys County Council Biodiversity Officers, to ensure they are appropriate and achievable.

More information on our approach to biodiversity can be found by clicking on this link: Biodiversity and Renewable Energy in Wales | Bute Energy

The site boundary has been defined using the landownership limits of those necessary for the project. The actual footprint of the constructed site will be smaller than the red line currently shown.

There is no specific separation distance between wind turbines and residential properties set out in law or guidance in the UK. We undertake a detailed Residential Visual Amenity Assessment from each property within 2km of a turbine and assess the level of change in accordance with the Landscape Institute’s guidance, with a view to ensuring properties remain attractive places to live.

We will also undertake a detailed Noise Assessment in accordance with planning policy and relevant guidance. This will be independently scrutinised by Powys County Council’s Environmental Health Officers and specialist consultants to ensure the proposals align with guidance. This will involve detailed surveys of the existing noise environment. We will need to demonstrate that the proposed turbines will meet national guidelines for noise, and these will be enforceable through planning conditions set out on any planning permission.

Available research (click to follow link) suggests there is no consistent evidence to support the idea that wind energy parks affect local house prices, and further research is ongoing by the industry.

We understand that public attitudes to onshore wind vary, but are generally positive. Government and other polls consistently indicate between 70 and 80% of the population supports onshore wind, and a poll in 2022 found that 76% of people support building renewable energy projects in their local area. The recent Cavendish Cymru Energy Polling Report October 2025 found that 63% of respondents would support onshore wind in their area, while 21% would oppose.

We will be undertaking a detailed Landscape and Visual Assessment, including a Residential Visual Amenity Assessment, and a Heritage Assessment as part of the planning application, which will assess the impact of the project on buildings and heritage assets, including their setting. The assessment will be on the basis the development operates for up to 40 years.

Public rights of way (PRoW) that cross through our project areas will be carefully reviewed and assessed as we develop our design. Where public routes are impacted by our proposals, we work closely with the local PRoW officer to ensure appropriate diversions are provided, when necessary, to reduce impact on and enhance the quality of these routes.

Tourism is an important part of the local economy, and we recognise the significance of the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park, and the value placed on its landscape, open views, and dark skies.

Early draft plans include the closest turbine tower to be located approx. 3 km north of the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park (BBNP) boundary. Evidence from other parts of the UK shows that wind energy parks and strong visitor economies can successfully coexist. The Study into the Potential Economic Impact of Wind Farms on Welsh Tourism found there to be negligible impact on the national tourism sector, and no evidence that wind energy parks on visitor routes deter tourists.

The report found that there are some potential positive impacts on tourism resulting from renewable energy, with projects enhancing existing visitor attractions, while others help provide investment in visitor facilities.

As part of the Environmental Impact Assessment, we will assess the potential visual impact of the project on key viewpoints. These viewpoints, including scenic locations and recreational routes within the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park (BBNP), are being identified in consultation with Natural Resources Wales, the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority and Powys County Council. This consultation also covers the scope of the Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA), including the selection of both daytime and nighttime photography locations.

These consultation bodies will also help to identify any mitigation measures that may be required, as well as any opportunities to enhance the landscape setting.

The potential effects on the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park will be a central consideration in the design of the project. Reducing visual impact on sensitive receptors -such as visitors and recreational users of the National Park – will be a key part of the design process.

Shadow flicker is an effect occasionally caused where the shadow of rotating blades passes through a nearby narrow opening, such as a window. This can only happen close to turbines and only at certain times of the day and year. Potential shadow flicker from local residential properties is assessed and considered as part of every project proposal. Shadow flicker is an effect that can be accurately predicted, and turbines can be set not to operate during these periods or other mitigation agreed with affected properties.  This will be assessed in our environmental Impact Assessment and will be considered by PEDW after the statutory consultation.

If given the go ahead by Welsh Government ministers, Garreg Fawr Energy Park will have an Annual Community Benefit Fund of up to £1.15 million, based on current designs. This value is calculated based on our commitment of £7,500 per megawatt of installed generating capacity. The administration process is set out below, which is already in motion for our first consented Energy Park:

1. The first step will see the projects, people and places that are at the heart of the communities be able to apply for grant funding from the Community Benefit Fund.
2. A panel of local people will be set up for each energy park. These people will be passionate community leaders who know their community and how best to support local priorities and projects that are put forward.
3. We’re establishing a new Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) to administer and direct the funding associated with each energy park, which will be regulated by the Charity Commission of England and Wales. Alongside a representative from ourselves at Bute Energy, a group of key independent experts will come together as the charity’s national board of trustees to support the local panels. Trustees will look for community-led direction from the local panels as to where funds should be invested.

More information about our Community Benefit Fund offer can be found on our website by clicking this link: Community Benefit Fund | Bute Energy

Alongside our Community Benefit Fund, we are also ensuring all suppliers sign up to our Social Value Standard, where 2% of the contract value is invested in communities near our projects. Suppliers will be given direction and advice from our Community Investment team internally as to how best to invest their resources, whether through upskilling, dedicating expertise in-kind, volunteering or sponsorship.  (Please see the link for further details and examples.)  Social Value Standard at Bute Energy

Electricity demand in Wales is expected to nearly triple by 2050. It is vital that we increase our energy security by generating more of our energy from renewable sources. We agree that onshore wind is not the only solution to improve energy security and reduce bills – a mixture of technologies and solutions are required to optimise the UK energy system and utilise available renewable resources.

Onshore wind projects can be constructed in months, at scale, and are relatively cheap and cost-effective to maintain compared with other renewable options. By producing renewable energy here in Wales, Garreg Fawr Energy Park would help to reduce our reliance on imported fossil fuels such as gas, which are subject to global price volatility. This, in turn, would help to improve energy security and contribute towards stabilising energy prices in the long term. If the UK had transitioned faster towards renewable energy prior to the war in Ukraine, energy bills could have been £1,750 lower in 2022. (https://electricalreview.co.uk/2023/01/04/energy-bills-could-be-1750-lower-had-uk-transitioned-to-renewables-faster/)

There are occasions where wind energy parks are paid not to generate. This typically happens in Scotland, where the transmission infrastructure isn’t yet strong enough to support all generation when wind speeds are high – certain wind energy parks will be paid constraint payments.

The same systematic issue is not present in Wales, although it is still possible constraints would occur under specific conditions (e.g. grid outage). Pen y Cymoedd has been constrained on few occasions but generally, very few constraints occur in Wales. Our projects are designed to operate without public subsidy and tie in with new grid and grid upgrade projects to ensure the electricity that is generated can be used efficiently.

We are aware of the Statement of Common Ground (SOCG) between Powys County Council, and the Ministry of Defence dated June 2017. We are also aware that the Sennybridge (Ministry of Defence) Training Area (SENTA) has been identified in a list of strategic resources and assets in Strategic Policy SP7 – Safeguarding of Strategic Resources and Assets within the adopted Powys Local Development Plan (LDP) 2011-2026.

The adopted LDP and Strategic Policy SP7 doesn’t reference a buffer or exclusion zone around the boundary of SENTA and otherwise states development proposals must not have an unacceptable adverse impact on the resource or asset and its operation.

We want to reassure you that we’re consulting with the Ministry of Defence and the National Air Traffic Services (NATS) as part of the planning process, to ensure that any impacts to their operations are minimised and that we understand any concerns they may have.

Our projects are designed to operate without public subsidy and tie in with new grid and upgraded grid infrastructure projects to ensure the electricity that is generated can be used efficiently. Onshore wind energy, unlike gas and other fossil fuels, is not exposed to global fuel price volatility (see Table 138: Electricity generation costs 2023). The UK uses a marginal pricing model, where the price of electricity is set by the most expensive source used to meet demand – typically gas-fired power plants.

If cheaper renewables can meet the electricity demand, then the final price would be lower instead of reflecting the cost of gas, which is volatile and expensive. The high price of global gas has meant that 45% of households are struggling to pay their energy bills. We need to invest in a mixture of renewable energy sources to increase our energy security as a nation, cutting down our reliance on imported fossil fuels.

Turbines installed today would have a life expectancy of 40 years as long as they’re maintained properly and regularly with the replacement of components as and when necessary.

Once the project reaches the end of its operational life, the site will be decommissioned in line with a Decommissioning Plan agreed with the Local Planning Authority. There are guidelines on best practice and land management techniques which would be considered as part of this Plan with the overall aim to ensure the site can return to its original condition or an agreed alternative beneficial use. Turbines and associated infrastructure may be removed, and the land returned to its previous use, such as agriculture. However, some elements, like underground cabling or access tracks, may be left in place if agreed with the landowner and planning authority.

Bute Energy’s Land Team works closely with landowners and common land rights holders on all our projects. If your property or your interest in the land is directly affected by the proposed energy park (i.e. there will be turbines or infrastructure or other measures on your land) we will have contacted you previously. If you have any queries please don’t hesitate to reach out to the team via the contact form on the website.

This is an area where technology is advancing fast, and with urgency and a coalition of industry leaders, researchers, and policymakers are pioneering solutions to prevent decommissioned wind turbine blades from ending up in landfill.  Much of the turbine is fully recyclable, being made of steel or other metals, however, rather than recycling, priority would be given to repurposing components, if possible. Excellent examples are publicly available of decommissioned turbines being used to support a range of activities. Innovative techniques like advanced mechanical recycling, pyrolysis (breaking down of touch composite resins), and ‘design for recycling’, where new generation turbines consider the end of life in the design phase, are being developed to create a truly circular economy for wind energy components.

Our proposals meet the standards required for acceptable decommissioning based on what would happen today.  This will be detailed in our Construction Environment Management Plan (CEMP).

The Garreg Fawr Energy Park is still at an early stage of development, and extensive environmental assessments are underway. Desk-based assessments, site visits and surveys are being undertaken to inform the design of the Garreg Fawr Energy Park and to ensure that environmental constraints are understood and impacts are avoided, minimised and/or mitigated.

At this stage of our pre-application process, we are consulting our stakeholders on our indicative red line site boundary and turbine locations. This is our non-statutory consultation, intended to seek early feedback on the overall energy development and the turbine layout shared. We aim to consult as early as possible on our projects once they have passed certain criteria in terms of their feasibility and certainty to obtain feedback prior to the design of the project being finalised, so that design change requests and feedback can be taken into consideration before a design is finalised, likely in 2026.

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.

The environmental effects arising as a result of the development, including (but not limited to) Landscape and Visual, Hydrology and Biodiversity will be reported in an Environmental Statement (ES).

The design is constantly evolving as further information from desk study, surveys, and feedback from consultees and the public become available.

This Draft ES and supporting information will be shared at the next consultation stage, otherwise known as Pre-Application Consultation (PAC). At that point, we will have available:

• A full draft ES, including findings from all completed environmental impact assessments;
• Detailed plans and drawings of the proposed development, including access and construction details;
• A Non-Technical Summary of the ES;
• A Draft Planning Statement and other supporting documents, and;
• A summary of consultation undertaken to date and how feedback has informed the proposal.

We will return to the community in the next stage of our pre-application consultation process, where there will be further opportunities to meet with our team. This will be in our statutory consultation, currently scheduled for mid-2026. Further public events will be held, and feedback will again be sought on our detailed proposals.

A meteorological mast (Met Mast) is a temporary structure used to measure wind speed, wind direction, and other weather conditions at a proposed energy park site. Collecting this data helps the project team understand the local wind resource and is a standard part of early-stage wind farm development.

Met Masts are typically in place for a limited period and are designed to be removed once the required data has been collected. The information gathered helps ensure the project is designed safely, efficiently, and in a way that makes best use of the local conditions.

For further information, please visit Met Masts for Wind Farms Explained – Bute