Plans for Wales’ first hydrogen house approved

Elgan Hearn, Local Democracy Reporter

Plans for what is claimed to be the first house in Wales to be wholly powered by hydrogen gas have been approved by planners.

In May last year, housing association Pobl Group, along with Cartrefi Hydrogen Homes, submitted a planning application to Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council to convert number four Ashfield Terrace, Victoria Road, Six Bells in Abertillery into a demonstrator hydrogen house for two years.

This means that the terrace house would be “retrofitted” to become an environmentally friendly hydrogen-powered house.

It would be used by the housing association to demonstrate the virtues of using hydrogen rather than more traditional fuels.

Planning officer Sara Thomas said: “It is considered that the installation would not have a detrimental impact on the character, appearance of the application site, the residential amenity of those living closest to the site, or highway safety.

“Subject to conditions to ensure ecological and green infrastructure enhancements, it is considered that the works would not have a detrimental impact on the biodiversity and ecological value of the area.

“The application is therefore considered compliant with national planning policies and the relevant policies of the Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council Local Development Plan (LDP) and is recommended for approval subject to conditions.”

Documents lodged in support of the proposal by LRM Planning Limited explained that Cartrefi Hydrogen Homes are trialling Wales’s first hydrogen-powered home as a greener, more environmentally friendly alternative fuel to oil and gas for heating and cooking.

The temporary permission allows for a whole year of data to be collected while also allowing Cartrefi Hydrogen Homes to showcase the technology and systems in place.

Visitors to the property would be organised by appointment, with a maximum of three sessions with up to six people to take place on any one day: “subject to demand.”

LRM Planning said: “The scheme has the potential to assist the step towards hydrogen gas being rolled out across Wales and the United Kingdom, including the adaptation of existing properties supporting the transition towards net zero targets.”