Bute’s Radnor Forest Nant Mithil Wind Farm Update

“Radnorshire  people are still seething because Bute Energy had the temerity to name their giant proposed Radnor Forest Wind Farm after Mithil Brook (Nant means “brook”), home to the protected Mithil Brook and Cwm Blithus SSSI, on the western part of the site.

Bute submitted their final Application for this 31 turbine project, the first for the trio of  Bute’s hill-top developments between New Radnor and Builth Wells, in December 2024.  Inspector A. Thickett, Planning and Environmental Decisions Wales, has published his Assessment of the Environmental Statement submitted with the application for Bute Energy’s Wind farm of giant turbines on Radnor Forest.  He found that the ecological survey data needed updating and the bat surveys should relate to the final proposed layout instead of a previous discarded layout.  CPRW’s Consultant Ecologist had already noted these problems.  The missing information may mean considerable delay, disrupting Bute’s development schedule.

Hendy Wind Farm, still standing inoperative in breach of planning conditions, sits between Radnor Forest and Gilwern Hill.  CPRW has complained to the Welsh Government about the failure of Powys County Council to address this issue and is still waiting for a response.   The history of Hendy Wind Farm has shown we simply can’t have any faith in the Planning Conditions supposed to control the environmental impact of any major development.

Now yet another project has come forward, south of Builth Wells narrowly separated from Aberedw Hill, by the iconic River Wye valley.  This is a Wind2 project for another 27 turbines up to 200m tall with Solar and Battery Storage extras.”