Ein cyf/Our ref:NRW-13-079695 Eich cyf/Your ref: P/2013/1064

Tŷ Ladywell, Stryd y Parc, Y Drenewydd, LD1 5PS/ Ladywell House, Park Street, Newtown, LD1 5PS

Ffôn/Tel 01686 613400 Ffacs/Fax 01686 629556 Ebost/Email [email protected]

Gemma Bufton Planning Officer County Council The Gwalia Ithon Rd Llandindrod Wells LD1 6AA

3th January 2014

P/2013/1064. INSTALLATION OF A SINGLE WIND TURBINE (24.8M TO HUB AND 34.5M TO BLADE TIP) AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT HOUSING. PENLLANERCH GLASCWM, , LD1 5SE

Thank you for your consultation referring to the above proposals.

Natural Resources Wales brings together the work of the Countryside Council for Wales, Environment Agency Wales and Forestry Commission Wales, as well as some functions of Welsh Government. Our purpose is to ensure that the natural resources of Wales are sustainably maintained, enhanced and used, now and in the future.

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) ______objects to this proposal, (however, if further applications for single turbines of this size were to be submitted within this area of Radnorshire, then NRW would have concerns about the cumulative impact of these schemes.)

NRW advice on the application

The current proposal, which is located outside a Strategic Search Area as defined by Technical Advice Note (TAN) 8, is for a single turbine 34.5 m high (to tip of blade).

The application site sits within NRW’s LANDMAP Historic Landscape aspect area of Edw (RDNRHL914) that has been classed as ‘Outstanding’. LANDMAP describes Edw as an “historic landscape area defined by a fieldscape of irregular fields occupying the upland valley of the river Edw and its tributaries to the east of . Small to medium-sized

Tŷ Cambria  29 Heol Casnewydd  Caerdydd  CF24 0TP Cambria House  29 Newport Road  Cardiff  CF24 0TP Croesewir gohebiaeth yn y Gymraeg a’r Seasneg Correspondence welcomed in Welsh and English

fields of irregular and regular shape with predominantly hedged boundaries. Early prehistoric settlement and land use represented by chance finds and burial and ritual monuments. Later prehistoric activity represented by an Iron Age hillfort. Strategically-sited Roman fort at Colwyn Castle. The area includes extensive evidence of medieval settlement and land use denoted by small medieval nucleated church settlements at , Llanbadarn-y-garreg, Cregrina, Glascwm, -in-Elvel, and Rhulen and by scattered earthwork castles. Dispersed farmsteads of possibly of medieval and early post-medieval origin. Discrete areas of possibly medieval ridge and furrow cultivation. Small post-medieval nucleated roadside settlements at Hundred House and Franksbridge. Post-medieval water corn and woollen mills.”

Direct to the north of the site lies the Historic Ladscape Area of Glascwm Hill (RDNRHL371) also classed as ‘Outstanding’ in LANDMAP. Glascwm Hill aspect area is described as an “unenclosed common running along upland ridge. Early activity indicated by scattered prehistoric burial monuments on hilltops and upper slopes. Medieval and later land use represented by building platforms, a number of farmstead encroachments onto the common and small areas of cultivation ridges. Post-medieval shooting butts, small stone quarries and evidence of peat cutting.”

NRW has concerns about the cumulative impacts that single wind turbines could have on the landscape in this area of Radnorshire owing to its largely undeveloped nature. The location of an existing 21m to blade tip wind turbine in Upper Llwyn Tudor, Rhulen (planning application ref P/2012/0959) has been considered in the LVIA provided by the developer which concludes that the proposed wind turbine is likely to contribute to very few cumulative effects within the study area. However, no ZTVs have been included in the cumulative landscape and visual assessment to illustrate the extend and interaction of the visibility of both wind turbines. Also, different size wind turbines have the potential to create a confusing and poorly coordinated visual image when seen in combination. Hence, NRW recommends to reduce the size of the proposed wind turbine in order to avoid theses undesirable effects in the areas with combined visivility of both wind turbines (or refuse the application) .

NRW agrees that the visual impact on the user of the Wye Valey Walk will be negligible and the there will be no visibility of the development from other Long Distance Paths or National Cycle Routes.

In view of the ecological report submitted in support of the application “Ecological Appraisal of land at Penllanerch Farm, Glascwm, Hundred House, in relation to a proposed wind turbine” by One Planet Ecology, dated in September 2013, NRW agrees with the Powys Ecologist the memorandum dated 26th November 2013 and considers that protected sites and European protected species should not be affected by the proposal.

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Please note that we have not considered possible effects on all local or regional biodiversity interests. Therefore, you should not rule out the possibility of adverse effects on such interests, which would be relevant to your Authority’s general duty to have regard to conserving biodiversity, as set out in section 40 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Act (2006). We recommend that you speak to your Authority’s Ecologist in this regard.

In summary, NRW ______objects to this proposal, however, if further applications for single turbines of this size were to be submitted within this area of Radnorshire, then NRW would have concerns about the cumulative impact of these schemes.

I hope these comments are of assistance. If you have any queries, or if you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us at the above address.

Yours sincerely

Caroline Moscrop Arweinydd Tîm / Team Leader Maesyfed a Gogledd Brycheiniog / Radnor & N Brecknock

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