Bryn Llywleyn Wind Turbine Development Public Inquiry
Wales, UK
| Title: | Bryn Llywleyn Wind Turbine Development Public Inquiry, Wales, UK |
| Markets: | Infrastructure |
| Client: | Carmarthenshire County Council |
| Services: | Landscape planning |
| Region: | United Kingdom |
| Date: | 2014 |
Gillespies’ landscape planners provided expert witness services at the Public Inquiry to determine if further wind turbine development could take place in an area identified by the Welsh government as a Strategic Search Area.
At inquiry, the Planning Inspector concluded that while the development would contribute to the UK’s target of 15% energy from renewable sources by 2020, and that the site was contained in a Strategic Search Area for renewables development, not all such land was environmentally suitable for major wind power proposals and that the site in question should be preserved as a “special place”.
The Inspector also considered that the proposals would harm the setting of several Bronze Age Scheduled Ancient Monuments. The Welsh housing and regeneration minister concurred with the Planning Inspector’s decision and dismissed the appeal.
Acting as an Expert Witness on landscape matters for Carmarthenshire County Council, Gillespies presented an assessment of the landscape concerned and concluded that the development would be very harmful to the perception of Mynydd Llanllwni as a wild, empty and quiet landscape and to the value placed on it by local people and visitors alike.
