Public consultation sessions on major new wind farm plans

Residents in Bridgend county borough have been invited to attend a public consultation to discuss proposals for a new onshore wind farm.

Called Y Bryn, the 21-turbine wind farm development is being proposed by the energy companies, Coriolis Energy and ESB.

It would be split between two forestry blocks between the Llynfi and Afan valleys on land which is owned by Welsh Government and managed by Natural Resources Wales.

Now, the public are being consulted at a number of face-to-face and virtual sessions as the project enters its next phase. As some of the development land lies within the boundaries of Bridgend County Borough and Neath Port Talbot, public exhibitions have been arranged in both areas:

• Monday, 1 November – Bryn Community Centre, Maesteg Road, Bryn (SA31 2RY) between 2pm-7pm
• Tuesday, 2 November – Cefn Cribwr Athletic Club, Cae Gof, Cefn Road, Cefn Cribwr (CF32 0BA) between 2pm-7pm
• Wednesday, 3 November – Cwmafan Community Centre, Depot Road, Cwmafan (SA12 9BA) between 2pm-7pm
• Friday, 5 November – Maesteg Sports Centre, Old Forge Site, Nant-y-Crynwydd, Maesteg (CF34 9DS) between 2pm-7pm
• Saturday, 6 November – Taibach Community Centre, Duke Street, Taibach (SA13 1NA) between 12pm-4pm

An interactive, virtual consultation can be accessed through the Y Bryn Windfarm website.

Following an earlier consultation in the summer, several changes have been made to the development including reducing the number of proposed turbines from 26 to 21, reducing the height of all turbines in the northern Penhydd block and relocating some turbines to reduce specific localised impacts.

It is important that as many residents continue to contribute their views on this project at the upcoming public and virtual sessions.

While not a project proposed by the local authority, we want to ensure that as many people take part in the consultation as possible because this project is likely to evolve over time.

If successful, this significant scheme promises to deliver clean energy to more than 125,000 homes. There will, however, be a significant visual impact as the project comprises 21 turbines and associated infrastructure such as battery storage facilities, substations and access tracks.

Councillor Stuart Baldwin, Cabinet Member for Communities

As this project will deliver in excess of 10MW of wind energy it will constitute a Development of National Significance (DNS) under the Planning (Wales) Act 2015 an application must be made to Planning and Environment Decisions Wales, which will make a recommendation to Welsh Ministers on whether or not to grant planning permission.

For more information about the project, visit the Y Bryn Windfarm website.