Status: Completed

Planning Application Ref: P/13/0215

LPA: Merthyr Tydfil

Located near Treharris in South Wales, Tir Cook Farm benefits from a single wind turbine generating significant amounts of safe, clean renewable energy. Planning permission was granted in October 2013 for:

  • A single 500kW wind turbine with a tip height of 77 metres
  • An associated substation (approx. 6 metres x 3 metres)
  • A crane hard-standing which will measure 20 metres by 35 metres and will be located adjacent to the wind turbine
  • A new access track of 467 metres will be created from the Tir Cook Farm access road

The development will be located on Tir Cook Farm on the upland plateau of Cwm Cothi in Merthyr Tydfil County.

  • Why is the development needed?

    • This site will produce approximately 1,638,000 kWh of electricity every year; this is enough to power over 500 average homes
    • This 500kW turbine will displace 500 tons of CO2 every year caused by conventional gas or coal fired generators
    • The UK is currently dependent on the import of oil, coal, gas, and electricity. This turbine will help with the UK security of supply

  • Why here?

    Identifying an appropriate site for a wind turbine is a complex and lengthy process. We look to ensure our projects have the least possible impact on the local area and consider numerous factors before we decide to progress. The location at Tir Cook Farm benefits from:

    • Good wind speed (on average 6.3 metres a second)
    • Good site access
    • Minimal effect on locally or nationally designated environments
    • A viable connection to the electricity grid
    • No impact on civil or military aviation
    • The ability to site a turbine an appropriate distance from homes

  • The Location

    The site is located in a rural area in Merthyr Tydfil County Borough and lies approximately 0.7 kilometres east of Aberfan and 2 kilometres south‐west of Bedlinog. The site comprises agricultural land that forms part of the landholding of Tir Cook Farm, whose associated buildings are located 406 metres south‐east of the application site.

  • Technical Considerations

    Noise – A full noise assessment has been carried out and approved by Merthy Tydfil County Borough Council. No dwellings will be subject to noise levels above nationally stated environmental health standards set out in ETSU-R-97.

    Shadow Flicker – A shadow flicker assessment has been carried out and was approved as part of the planning application. This shows that no dwellings in the proximity of the development will suffer from the effects of shadow flicker.

    Ecology – A full Ecological Study was undertaken as part of the planning application. It concluded that the effects on local ecology were minimal and acceptable. Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council agreed.

    Archaeology and Cultural Heritage – An Archaeology and Cultural Heritage study was submitted as part of the planning application and approved. This concluded that there would be no unacceptable impact from the development.

    Aviation and Ministry of Defence (MoD) – No objections were received from either civil or MoD aviation in relation to the safety of aircraft.

  • Landscape & Visual Impact

    It is inevitable that the wind turbine will be seen in the surrounding area. A formal assessment of landscape and visual impact was undertaken in line with strict guidelines and it was concluded that the impacts were minimal and acceptable.