A DUBAI-based businessman is planning to open a falcon breeding facility near Brecon.

Mohammed Hillal Bin Tarraf is the owner of the Nad Al Shiba Avian Reproduction Research Centre in Dubai, the only commercial falcon breeding centre in the Middle East. It provided and flew falcons used in the George Clooney political drama Syriana.

Mr Hillal intends opening a small scale falcon breeding facility, employing three members of staff, in the countryside near Brecon. Mr Hillal already has a home in the area.

He has applied to Powys County Council for planning permission to build three steel framed agricultural buildings for use for breeding captive falcons. He is also seeking planning permission to convert an existing barn and stable block.

David Le Mesurier, who is the manager of the Dubai centre, said the facility in Brecon will be a private project for Mr Hillal.

"The area was chosen because Mr Hillal has a house in the area and very much likes the area as it is quite, has lots of fresh air and has a lot of open countryside which both he and his family enjoy," said Mr Le Mesurier who has a house in Glasbury.

"Mr Hillal has a deep love of falconry and has flown falcons since he was a young boy, as his father did before him. Falconry is a cultural tradition in the Middle East. He wants to be able to breed falcons near his home in the Brecon area so that he can be with them when he is there in the summer each year.

"The centre is not intended a commercial operation and is not directly associated with our breeding facility here in Dubai. It is a private project for Mr Hillal and his family and the offspring will be used by himself, family and friends for falconry. The offspring will be brought out to Dubai once they have been trained in the UK where the weather is cooler at that time of year."

Mr Le Mesurier said it is intended to recruit the three members of staff, which will include a live in manager, from the local area. One other employee will also live on site.

Thee three units will be used to house breeding pairs of falcons, the second to house breeding quails and the third to rear quails which will be feed to the falcons. The falcons will be captive.

The planning application states although the development is outside of a settlement boundary it meets Powys council’s policies in relation to rural enterprises. Measure to protect the number of bat species that roost in the buildings to be converted will also be taken.

Barrie Davies, of Asbri Planning, said it is hoped to start construction next year if the project is given planning permission.