Mid Wales Conjoined Planning Inquiry [2013-14]
The UK’s biggest onshore wind farm public inquiry sat for a year during 2013/14. Wales’ longest-ever planning inquiry has been considering proposals for five onshore wind farms and a 132kV connection to the power grid in Powys, mid-Wales.
Tom Cosgrove and Clare Parry appeared throughout the inquiry on behalf of Powys County Council
The Mid Wales (Powys) Conjoined Wind Farms Public Inquiry began in June 2013. On 20th May the hearing started to consider final submissions before the year-long proceedings came to a close on Friday 30th May 2014.
Under consideration were nationally significant wind farm and related grid proposals for up to 600 megawatts of new capacity for sites in Mid Wales. The inquiry covered a full range of issues including the latest renewable energy and planning policy, landscape and visual matters, tourism and the economy, transport, noise, ecology, grid, cultural heritage and cumulative impact considerations.
As each of the schemes were over 50 MW in capacity the fate of the proposals lies in the hands of UK Energy Secretary Ed Davey who will determine their future after he has received the recommendations of the planning inspector who held the inquiry.
