Planning Committee

The committee considered a proposal for a 13-turbine wind farm at Mynydd Maen. Members agreed to note the officer's report, and they stayed concerned about visual and environmental impacts. The Principal Planner said these concerns would go to the Planning Inspectorate, which will consider the application.

1. Mynydd Maen wind farm planning application

   Decided

   Members agreed to note the report. The minute records no decision on the application itself. The Principal Planner would pass the committee's concerns to the Planning Inspectorate.

   Why

   Members remained concerned that the visual and environmental impacts were unchanged, particularly on the world heritage site and local woodland, and were disappointed there was no new bat collision data. The applicant said the turbines' distance from homes would prevent significant harm, and that peat depth meant no adverse impact; the minute says the inspector would consider this.

   Based on the minutes

Written by AI from the council's minutes and reports. Sentences with a number or name that can't be found in those papers are removed automatically, but mistakes are still possible. Councils publish no word-for-word record of meetings, so this says what was decided and why. Read the official papers to be sure.

1. 1

   Attendance and Apologies/ Presenoldeb ac Ymddiheuriadau

   Minute

   1.1 Apologies were received by Councillors Stuart Ashley, Karl Gauden and Norma Parrish.

2. 2

   Declarations of interest/Datganiadau o fudd

   Minute

   2.1 The following interests were declared: · Councillor Steven Evans declared a personal interest in agenda item 4 as he had been consulted on the application as ward member but had not made any representations on the application. · Councillor Jon Horlor declared a personal interest in agenda item 4 as a Member of Pontypool Community Council who had been consulted on the application. · Councillor Gaynor James declared a personal interest in agenda item 4 as a Member of Pontypool Community Council who had been consulted on the application. · Councillor Jon James declared a personal interest in agenda item 4 as a Member of Pontypool Community Council who had been consulted on the application. · Councillor Mark Jones declared a personal interest in agenda item 4 as he had been consulted on the application.

3. 3

   Minutes of Planning Committee - 24/09/2025 / Cofnodion Pwyllgor Cynllunio - 24/09/2025

   Minute

   3.1 The minutes of the meeting held on 24th September 2025 were confirmed as a true and accurate record.

   Papers: Minutes , 24/09/2025 Planning Committee
4. 4

   Planning Application - 24/P/0451/DNS / Cais Cynllunio - 24/P/0451/DNS

   Minute

   4.1 The Principal Planner presented the report to Members which included the updated information on the proposed wind farm, making the following comments: · The ecological mitigation measures included restoration of dry heath, bracken control, removal of invasive trees, pond creation at the borrow pits, and wetland improvement. The applicant did not provide new bat collision data, citing the newness of the development, but Natural Resources Wales was satisfied that mitigation could be addressed through conditions. The Council’s Ecologist was broadly content with the proposed mitigation. · The development would have a visual impact on local residents particularly those living in Pantygasseg and The Square. · Concerns were reiterated about the industrialisation of the ridgeline and the intrusive nature of the turbines, with the applicant maintaining that the distance from residences would prevent significant detriment. No new visual assessments were provided. · Several of the turbines were within potential blasting zones for high specification aggregate and sand/gravel resources. The applicant's expert concluded that extraction would not be economically viable during the wind farm's lifespan, so safeguarding was not considered an issue. · The applicant has re-iterated that due to Peat depth there would be no adverse impact. It would be for the PEDW inspector to consider any impact. 4.2 Members expressed ongoing concerns about the unchanged environmental and visual impacts, particularly regarding the impact on the world heritage site and local woodland and were disappointed in lack of bat collision data. 4.3 The Principal Planner stated that the concerns from Torfaen County Borough Council, Caerphilly County Borough Council, and Natural Resources Waled regarding visual and ecological impacts remained valid and he would ensure the concerns were highlighted for the Planning Inspectorate’s consideration. The Principal Planner agreed to provide committee members with updates regarding the upcoming hearing dates on wind farm planning application so they could attend or observe if desired. 4.4 Members agreed to note the report.

   Part of an issue followed across 2 meetings

   Papers: 24-P-0451-DNS Report Committee 22-10-25, APPENDIX 1 24-P-0451-DNS LIR

Councillors must say when they have a personal link to something being discussed, such as a job, a property or a family member. A prejudicial interest is one strong enough that the councillor usually leaves the room and takes no part.

• Steven Evans: Personal interest on Planning Application - 24/P/0451/DNS / Cais Cynllunio - 24/P/0451/DNS

  Consulted on the application as ward member, but had made no representations on it.

• Jon Horlor: Personal interest on Planning Application - 24/P/0451/DNS / Cais Cynllunio - 24/P/0451/DNS

  Member of Pontypool Community Council, which had been consulted on the application.

• Gaynor James: Personal interest on Planning Application - 24/P/0451/DNS / Cais Cynllunio - 24/P/0451/DNS

  Member of Pontypool Community Council, which had been consulted on the application.

• Jon James: Personal interest on Planning Application - 24/P/0451/DNS / Cais Cynllunio - 24/P/0451/DNS

  Member of Pontypool Community Council, which had been consulted on the application.

• Mark Jones: Personal interest on Planning Application - 24/P/0451/DNS / Cais Cynllunio - 24/P/0451/DNS

  Consulted on the application.

• Norma Parrish, ChairLabourSent apologies
• Alan Slade, Committee MemberReform UKAbsent
• Alfie Best, Committee MemberLabourAbsent
• Chris Tew, Committee MemberThe Independent GroupAbsent
• Gaynor James, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Janet Jones, Committee MemberTorfaen Independent GroupPresent
• Jon Horlor, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Jon James, Committee MemberLabourPresent