Denbighshire Planning and DNS Update May 2024

Developments of National Significance

1. a) ELWY SOLAR ENERGY. We are pleased to report that this application was refused by Julie James, the Assembly member responsible for climate change and some of planning, on the grounds that the site was classified as “Best and Most Versatile Agricultural Land” (BMVAL).
2. b) ST. ASAPH SOLAR FARM. Documents have been submitted by Anesco, the applicant, dealing with the quality of the land, habitat, great crested newts, flood risk, glint, visibility from elsewhere, and the historic environment.
3. c) GAERWEN WINDFARM. This application, on the hill overlooking Llandrillo, is now for 9 turbines (7x180m and 2x200m), with an installed capacity of (up to) 59MW. The developers are RWE, and the latest timetable is that they will submit their planning application to PEDW later this year; get a decision in 2025; and be in operation by 2027. They also promise a public consultation early this summer. Readers will know that there is fierce and well organised opposition to this windfarm.
4. d) ALWEN FOREST – WIND. Another RWE application, sited in the forest between Llyniau Brenig and Alwen. This is in CCBC but near enough to DCC to be of interest to us. It is for 9 turbines up to 200m. Pre-submission documents have been lodged with PEDW, as is normal, and like all DNS matters, creeps forward slowly. It is worth saying at this point that PEDW is overwhelmed with the number of DNS applications, and with Appeals against Local Authority refusals, and long delays are to be expected all along the line. (It’s probably because they are working from home!)
5. e) MOEL CHWA ENERGY PLANT. This is also in Conwy, but close to the border of Denbighshire, between the villages of Llanfihangel GM, Llangwm and Cerrigydrudion. The developer is Bute Energy of Cardiff, which has many ongoing wind projects elsewhere in Wales.  There is an existing consent for 11 turbines on part of Bute’s intended site, but it seems that only one turbine resulted from that. They envisage 12 turbines of 200m in total (but that may change as they explore this large site).
6. f) ORDDU ENERGY PARK. Bute again, and situated north east of Bala, possibly in the hills above a tiny hamlet called Cwm Cywen. A Limited Company has been formed, but no details seem to be available on Bute’s website. We await further news.
7. g) GWYDDELWERN. We are advised that an elecricity substation is being planned for the village of Gwyddelwern, to handle the production of four windfarms; and that it will be accompanied by a Battery Electric Storage System. This itself will be “nationally significant” enough to be a DNS! More later, no doubt.

Other Planning.

1. a) 43/23/0931. Houses at Meliden. We told DCC Planning Committee that it was unusual for CPRW to object to applications that had been accepted into the extant LDP, because we assumed that the suitability of the site had been examined and approved, at least in principle, by the Officers and the Committee. In this case, however, the volume of objections from local residents was so overwhelming regarding the dangers of flooding and wildlife on the site, and of dangers for children crossing a road, that we would have to object to the application until further research should take place.
2. b) On behalf of a member, we queried the legitimacy of a large wall which appeared to form part of the garden of a house under reconstruction, but which was an ugly and unduly prominent feature, when viewed from the road. We provided a photo of this, and DCC are looking into it. It did not form part of the planning application, nor of the consent for alterations to the house. Ongoing.