Massive windfarm planned on border of Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend

Lewis Smith, local democracy reporter

A new draft application for a massive wind farm on the border of Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend has been announced by developers this month, for what could be the tallest onshore wind-farm in the UK.

The proposal, which has now been revised for a third time and contains three fewer turbines, will go back out for public consultation this summer, after Coriolis Energy and the Electricity Supply Board (ESB) released new plans to build 18 wind turbines in a semi-rural area between Port Talbot and Maesteg.

The proposed site which would be named Y Bryn wind farm, sits on two blocks of Welsh Government woodland estate managed by Natural Resources Wales, and would fall largely within Neath Port Talbot County Borough, stretching in parts to Bridgend County Borough.

The project proposes some of the tallest turbines in the UK, measuring between 206 to 230 metres, and up to 250 metres to the tip, along with turbine foundations, external transformer housings, control building and compound, and a battery/energy storage facility.

An statement from the developers read: “Coriolis Energy and ESB are proposing to develop a new onshore wind farm in South Wales that could deliver enough renewable energy to power over 85,700 homes.”

“The proposed wind farm site is split into two blocks. The Bryn block is located to the south of the B4282, with the Penhydd block located to the north of the road. The Llynfi and Afan valleys lie to the east and west of the wind farm site respectively.

“The M4 motorway, the main arterial route running east to west through South Wales, lies to the south of the site. As this project will deliver in excess of 10MW of wind energy it will constitute a Development of National Significance.”

Consultation

The announcement follows two earlier phases of consultation in 2021, which saw many residents in the surrounding areas expressing their concerns over the size and quantity of the turbines at the site.

After reducing the numbers of the turbines from 21 to 18, developers say they are once again looking for local opinion and feedback on the plans as part of its pre-application consultation, the time line of which could see a full application handed in to Welsh Government ministers later in 2023.

Trevor Hunter, Y Bryn project manager said: “We are excited to be bringing the draft application to pre-application consultation after we have had so
much interest and engagement throughout the process so far.

“We’re looking forward to hearing the feedback following the refinements we have made to the project, and we are proud of the final proposals, and we look forward to discussing these with the local communities at the public exhibitions.”

Exhibition

An online virtual exhibition will now be available throughout the pre-application consultation period, and include details of the revised proposal, as well as information about the construction process and environmental considerations, with a deadline for comment on Monday, July 17, 2023.

A series of public events will also take place for locals to join in the discussions on the Y Bryn Windfarm proposals as follows:

Bryn Community Centre Maesteg Road, Bryn, Neath Port Talbot, SA13 2RY
Monday, June 12, 2pm-7pm
Taibach Community Centre Duke Street, Taibach, Neath Port Talbot, SA13 1NA Tuesday, June 13, 2pm-7pm
Cefn Cribwr Athletic Club, Cae Gof, Bridgend, CF32 0BA
Wednesday, June 14, 2pm-7pm
Maesteg Sports Centre, Old Forge Site, Nant-y-Crynwydd, Maesteg, CF34 9EB
Friday, June 16, 2pm-7pm
Cwmafan Community Centre, Depot Road, Port Talbot SA12 9BA
Saturday, June 17, 2pm-7pm