The Project

The project will deliver net benefit for biodiversity over its lifetime, including creating and restoring habitats. These enhancements brought under appropriate management for the duration of the plan (45 years), will also benefit wildlife across the site by increasing the quality, quantity, diversity and connectivity of habitats from what is currently present.

We’ve completed a comprehensive Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA), reviewing viewpoints up to a 45km radius in consultation with the Council’s landscape experts. Every home within 2 km of the turbines has been closely assessed to ensure minimal disruption to residential visual amenities. The final layout of 13 turbines, compared to the original 15, results in a noticeable improvement in terms of landscape and visual effects.

We have collaborated closely with the Civil Aviation Authority, National Air Traffic Services, and the Ministry of Defence to ensure our plans fully comply with aviation safety regulations. Given the height of the turbines, aviation safety lighting will be required. Wherever possible, the final lighting configuration will be optimised to minimise visual impact on the local area. Additionally, when the lights are not obscured by cloud, the lights will operate at the minimal intensity for 88% of the time.

Our team has conducted extensive archaeological and historic background assessments of the site and surrounding area. These assessments concluded that there are no Registered Historic Landscapes or Designated Heritage Assets within the proposed site. There are multiple Listed Buildings within the surrounding area, ten of which are located in Llangurig, approximately 1.4 km west of the site. The Grade II* listed Church of St. Curig is also located within the village of Llangurig. We’ve designed the project to avoid direct physical impacts on these heritage assets.

During construction, a protocol for unexpected archaeological discoveries will be developed and deployed. This protocol will be agreed with Heneb (formerly Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust) and is likely to include:

• Toolbox talks or other instruction methods to allow operatives to identify potential archaeological remains.
• Protocols for protection, recording, and archiving of relevant finds.
• Protocols and communications plans for temporarily halting works and consulting with the relevant stakeholders in the event of unexpected remains of high or very high value/sensitivity.

Over the past two years, we have conducted extensive ornithological surveys across the site, including vantage point observations, breeding bird and raptor (bird of prey) assessments, and winter walkover surveys. Particular attention has been given to priority species such as Golden Plover, Red Kite and Hen Harrier, which may be at risk of turbine collisions. To mitigate this, we have carried out comprehensive Collision Risk Modelling as part of the planning process, helping to refine the site design and reduce potential impacts. Additionally, targeted habitat management measures will discourage activity near turbines, further ensuring their protection.

We’ve carried out thorough noise monitoring and impact assessments in line with best practice, relevant legislation and in consultation with Powys County Council. This ensures that noise limits are set to protect local residents and safeguard residential amenity. Any planning permission granted will include strict noise limits, and we are committed to not exceeding them. Temporary noise during construction will be managed through a Construction Environmental Management Plan, which includes restricted working hours to minimise disruption.

A series of site studies have been undertaken 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, sampling was taken in different 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 no private water supplies within the site boundary. Nearby supplies will be protected through industry-standard practices, including permanent drainage designs, pollution and sediment controls during construction and a water quality monitoring plan. We promise to conduct frequent communication with the relevant landowners and prepare a series of emergency measures to address any impacts, in the unlikely event that they occur.

We’ve assessed the potential for shadow flicker at nearby residential properties, a phenomenon caused by the rotation of turbine blades casting intermittent shadows. This effect can be accurately predicted, and we’ll implement mitigation measures such as temporarily halting turbines during peak shadow flicker periods.

As part of our commitment to transparency, we’ve carefully calculated the carbon cost of building, operating, and maintaining Rhiwlas Energy Park. This includes the carbon footprint from constructing the turbines, the concrete used in the foundations, and the emissions released during excavation.

Given the proposed development’s projected operational life of 45 years, these calculations show that Rhiwlas Energy Park will have produced enough green renewable energy to payback the carbon cost of its construction and operation within 1.7 years against a fossil-fuel mix of electricity generation.

The access point for the delivery of turbine components will be via a new simple priority junction on the A470, east of Llangurig. The access junction will form part of the planning application and will provide access for all abnormal loads associated with the turbine deliveries as well as access for HGV’s delivering construction materials. Any additional works required for the transport of abnormal loads will require separate planning permission, which will be submitted in consultation with the Local Authority. A Transport Management Plan will be developed in collaboration with the police, highway authorities, and hauliers to ensure the safe and efficient transport of components.