A major 17-turbine windfarm project south of Newtown has been given approval by the Welsh Government.

Ministers from the Senedd have given the go-ahead to EDF Renewables UK’s application to build its 85MW Garn Fach Wind Farm and energy storage facility south of Newtown.

This milestone, according to the applicant, ‘marks a major step forward in our commitment to renewable energy and combatting climate change’.

READ MORE: Garn Fach windfarm south of Newtown: Plans formally validated

The 17-turbine project will be capable of generating enough renewable electricity to meet the equivalent needs of 69,000 average UK homes.

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An energy storage facility onsite will help with the export of the energy produced into the national grid.

EDF Renewables UK’s director for Onshore Wind, Jon O’Sullivan, welcomed the decision from the Welsh Government.

He said: “We are pleased that the Welsh Government has approved our planning application for Garn Fach Wind Farm.

“The site is an excellent location for a wind farm and has the potential to make a significant positive impact in Wales and to the community.”

The windfarm, which would lie to the west of the village of Llathddu, near Llanbadarn Fynydd, was first put forward in early 2020, originally with 22 turbines, and was validated in 2022.

The original application promised benefits including "better habitats" for flora and fauna on the site, enabling recreational access to the on-site wind farm tracks for cyclists, adding new permissive bridleways and a permissive footpath to the scheduled monument, Fowler’s Arm Chair.

A spokesman for EDF Renewables UK added: “The benefits of the Garn Fach Wind Farm extend beyond renewable energy generation and include job creation, the development of new footpaths and cycle tracks across the site, and creation of a visitor car park for enhanced accessibility.

“As part of our dedication to community engagement, a community fund worth more than £10 million will be established over the lifetime of the project.

(Image: NQ)

“EDF Renewables UK’s commitment to habitat enhancement and restoration measures will also contribute to improving biodiversity on site.”

The site had previously been scoped for a windfarm by another developer, under the name Llaithddu, which would have seen 29 turbines built by the farm land owner and a wind energy company called Fferm Wynt Llaithddu cyf.

That was rejected in 2015, on the grounds that the southern section of the site contravened planning policies, and would cause significant harm to the landscape. That section will not include any turbines under the new plans.