122.5m meteorological mast at Land South Of Ffynnon Ffrydyll (spring), Brecon
Summary of planning committee decision
Decided by Powys Planning, Taxi Licensing & Rights of Way Committee on 6 Aug 2026.
What was proposed
The application sought five-year permission for a meteorological mast up to 122.5 metres high, ancillary structures and stockproof fencing.
“Application Number: 25/1679/FUL Grid Ref: E: 296333 N: 236259 Community Council: Merthyr Cynog Community Valid Date: 27.11.2025 Applicant: Garreg Fawr Energy Park Ltd…”
“Proposal: Application for temporary planning permission for the erection of a meteorological mast of up to 122.5m in height and ancillary structures for measurement of wind and weather data, with associated stockproof fencing, for a period of five years…”
Officer report
What people said
Fifty-seven objections raised concerns including landscape, ecology, aviation safety, peat, traffic, heritage, recreation, decommissioning and future windfarm development.
“Following the display of a site notice on 16/12/2025 and a further notice on 04/06/2026, 57 objections have been received at the time of writing this report. The points raised are detailed below:”
“- Affect local ecology - Development too high - Out of keeping with character of area - Over development - Close to adjoining properties - Inadequate access - Increase in traffic - Traffic or Highways - Increase in pollution + introduction of concrete - Removal of or harm to peat - Hazard to low-flying military aircraft - Conflict with local plan + national policy - General dislike of proposal - Noise nuisance - Information missing from plans - Insufficient and inaccurate…”
Officer report
What members debated
Members questioned curlew mitigation, the National Park objection, low-flying aircraft and aviation lighting, while officers explained consultee advice and proposed safeguards.
“Members sought clarification regarding concerns raised in relation to curlew habitat and the continuing objection from Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority. The Ecologist advised that the proposed mitigation measures were considered to represent industry standard practice and was satisfied that they were appropriate.”
“Members raised significant concerns on low flying military aircraft including visual impacts and aviation lighting, the Planning Officer explained that the MOD had raised no objections and had instead requested conditions requiring an aviation lighting scheme and advance notice prior to the erection of the mast.”
Minutes
How members voted
A refusal motion was not put to a vote, and approval was subsequently decided by the Chair’s casting vote after a tied vote.
“It was proposed and seconded to refuse the application contrary to the Officer recommendation, following officer advice the Chair advised that the reasons advanced in support of a refusal against officer recommendation were not sufficiently robust planning grounds. The motion was not put to the vote.”
“The vote was tied so therefore the Chair exercised a casting vote in favour of the approval.”
Minutes
Sources
- Powys Planning, Taxi Licensing & Rights of Way Committee minutes, 6 August 2026
- Agenda and papers (council website)
Source: Plota analysis of Powys's committee minutes and officer report. Quotations are the council's own words; headings and summaries are Plota's.
Committee decisions and nationwide planning applications, in one API
The Plota API returns planning applications from every council we cover, each with its decision, whether a committee or officers decided it, and the committee date. Build it into your own tools.
See the API →At the meeting
- Council
- Powys
- Date
- Thursday 6 August 2026
- Committee decided
- Approved
- Minutes
- The council's minutes
- Meeting
- Agenda and papers (council website)
- Application
- The application (council website)
- All decisions
- Powys committee decisions →
This committee's year
28 decisions in the 12 months to this meeting, 2 against officer advice.
Source: Plota analysis of the committee's minutes.