Dear Councillor,

Below is a news release that will be issued later this afternoon regarding the Renewable Energy Assessment and the Local Development Plan.

A members’ seminar will be held on 10 April where the latest information regarding the renewable energy assessment work will be presented alongside information about the LDP examination hearings.

The renewable energy assessment work is ongoing and the council is aiming to publish the additional evidence on its LDP webpages at the end of March 2017.

Further details on the seminar will follow.

Renewable energy assessment

Following Powys County Council’s Cabinet decision on Tuesday 14 January regarding the proposed Further Focussed Changes within the Local Development Plan, further work is being carried out on a renewable energy assessment before it is submitted to the Planning Inspectorate.

The council has been reviewing its Renewable Energy Assessment after Cabinet agreed last month that further work should be undertaken on the assessment as part of approving the consultation report on the Local Development Plan.

 The additional work will now consider a range of issues that are likely to have an impact on the assessment. In relation to wind energy, this will include:

 •        The Royal Air Force’s (RAF) low-flying tactical training area over a large part of western Powys

 •        A 10km buffer around the Sennybridge training area

 •        Appropriate buffers for special protection areas to protect bird species, requested by Natural Resources Wales (NRW)

 •        A 7km visual impact buffer placed around existing and proposed windfarms to take account of cumulative impact

•        A 7km buffer will be applied to all designated landscapes which include two national parks and two areas of outstanding natural beauty

•        Consideration of landscape and grid connection.

 These factors are likely to see a decrease in the number of local search areas in the county.

 The council is aiming to publish this additional evidence on its LDP webpages at the end of March 2017.

 Cllr Tony Thomas, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Planning, said: “The local development plan is the most important planning document we have and we are determined to ensure we have a robust framework in place.  It is a policy for the long-term and it is important that we get it right for the future.

“As part of this process, we are working hard to ensure that the renewable energy assessment is a robust document before we submit it to the Planning Inspectorate as part of the Local Development Plan examination.”

ENDS

Lee Evans

Swyddog Cyfathrebu ac Ymgysylltu

Communications and Engagement Officer

Ffôn/Tel: 01597 826023

Ffôn Symudol/Mobile: 07769 640058