13 new turbines approved at site of Mid Wales wind farm

Planning officers at Powys County Council have granted full permission for the development known as Carno 3 on land adjacent to Carno Wind Farm.

The site will feature 13 wind turbines up to 126.5 metres to the blade tip and generate up to 39 megawatts of renewable power, and will be situated near to the existing wind farms of Carno I and Carno 2.

Applicants Carno-based Amegni Renewables Ltd submitted plans for the development comprising 13 wind turbines, transformer housing, one anemometer mast, new access tracks, a substation, a control building, and crane hard standings.

The development would also titurnbsee the upgrade of existing access tracks, alterations to the main access road, an underground cable route, borrow pits and construction compound areas.

The Montgomeryshire branch of the Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales (CPRW) had objected to the proposals.

Jill Kibble, on behalf of Montgomeryshire CPRW, said: "We did submit our objections, and predominately our biggest objection was that this isn't merely an extension of the current wind farm, in fact it's on new territory, meaning it will cover a much larger area, as well as reaching new heights as these turbines will be more than 120 metres in height, higher than the previous turbines.

"Although I'm unsurprised the application has now had full planning permission, I don't believe there's been a proposal for working the power out, perhaps plans will go in for a 1.32kv line for that, I'm not sure."

Mrs Kibble said a number of developments in Montgomeryshire were waiting on whether the Secretary of State will decide to reopen a public inquiry to build wind farms at Llanbrynmair and Carnedd Wen, which had been thrown out by the government in 2015.

Amegni's application for Carno 3 was initially made in 2010 for 18 wind turbines. However, five were removed following consultant with the local community and the authorities.