Brechfa Forest

RWE npower renewables has been awarded the rights to seek planning permission to develop two wind farms in the Brechfa Forest in South West Wales, a woodland which is managed by Forestry Commission Wales on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government.

The proposed projects would be located within the county of Carmarthenshire, between 11km and 20km south/ south-west of Lampeter and between 12km and 23km north east of Carmarthen.

Over the last year, RWE npower renewables has engaged specialists to carry out detailed environmental surveys within the Brechfa Forest. We have concluded that the areas suitable for the location of turbines fall into two distinct geographic areas. Therefore, there will be two separate applications for consent- Brechfa Forest West Wind Farm and Brechfa Forest East Wind Farm

–  Brechfa Forest West Wind Farm, centred around the Afon Pib valley, east of Alltwalis. Our studies suggest this location could acommodate 28 turbines.

–  Brechfa Forest East Wind Farm, centred around Banc Llywelau, south of Rhydcymerau. Our studies suggest that this site could accommodate 12 turbines.

The consenting process

Due to differences in size, each site will follow a different application route; however in both cases Carmarthenshire County Council will remain formally involved.

The smaller Brechfa Forest East Wind Farm will be submitted as a Town & Country Planning Act application to Carmarthenshire County Council for its consideration.

As the Brechfa Forest West Wind Farm will have an installed capacity of over 50MW, it will be considered by the newly created, independent body, the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC). The IPC came into operation on 1 March 2010, with a remit to consider applications for ‘Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects’ - including large wind farms, and will make decisions based on policies which are set out by the Government.

As part of the IPC process for the Brechfa Forest West Wind Farm, and in addition to the public exhibitions which RWE npower renewables is currently running, there will be a formal consultation process. This will be later in 2010, and is the key stage at which members of the public should formally register their comments about the project. More specific information will be advertised nearer the time.
 
Our proposals are not finalised, and details such as the turbine layouts may still change.  The plans for the sites will be decided following discussions with Forestry Commission Wales, intended to minimise the impact on the forest. This may be achieved, for example, by positioning turbines in open space or areas recently felled where possible, and by maximising use of existing access tracks.