Support quality, independent, local journalism…that matters

From just £1 a month you can help fund our work – and use our website without adverts. Become a member today

Plans to increase the blade size of turbines for an approved wind farm near Senghenydd are a “minor change,” according to the developer behind the project.

The Welsh Government approved Twyn Hywel Energy Park last year, and developer Bute Energy is expected to start building the wind farm next year between Cilfynydd, Nelson and Senghenydd.

The approved plans allow for up to 14 wind turbines on the site, as well as other electrical infrastructure including a substation and underground power cables.

A new request to amend those plans would increase the overall diameter of the turbine rotors from 155 metres to 163 metres.

The proposals also include increasing the height of an on-site transformer from six metres to 11 metres, and enlarging the site’s “grid connection corridor”.

Bute Energy called the new proposals a “minor change” to the turbines’ dimensions.

“It’s common for projects of this type to undergo minor changes between being granted planning permission and before starting construction,” Matthew Haughton the project’s senior manager added.

“The overall height of turbines will not change, and fresh assessments have been completed on any potential impacts by both Caerphilly Council and independent consultants on behalf of Bute Energy.

“The assessments and representations to date have found that there would be no material change to the assessments originally carried to support our original application which was granted permission by Welsh Government last November.”

Planning agents Savills said the amendments would be “compliant” with the planning permission already granted – and would not exceed the 200-metre maximum height of each structure.

That is because the “hub height of the wind turbine will be reduced”, the agents explained.

According to Bute Energy, Twyn Hywel could generate enough energy to power 81,000 homes by 2027.

The development – between Cilfynydd, Nelson and Senghenydd – is also “expected to create hundreds of jobs directly and through the supply chain, and will generate a community investment fund of almost £700,000 every year for 40 years”, the firm said.

“With construction starting in the early part of next year and due to finish in late 2027, Twyn Hywel will be the first onshore wind energy park to be built in Wales since 2017, helping to reduce our reliance on expensive fossil fuels from abroad and at the same time investing in new local jobs, local business, and opportunities for people in Caerphilly,” Mr Haughton added.

The application is currently out for consultation, and can be viewed on the Caerphilly County Borough Council website under reference 25/0342/NCC.