Mid Wales communities and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) should be listened to over planned wind farm developments, David Chadwick has warned.

The Liberal Democrat Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe MP challenged the UK Government in Parliament on Tuesday, raising concerns that ministers are dismissing both local objections and formal warnings from the MoD.

Speaking to the Secretary of State for Wales, Jo Stevens, Mr Chadwick said residents and small businesses were increasingly anxious about the scale and concentration of wind farm proposals across Mid Wales. He has previously said that many local people feel their concerns about landscape impact, tourism, infrastructure, and cumulative development are being ignored.

He told the House of Commons: “The Secretary of State has been highly critical of the legitimate concerns that my constituents have raised about the numerous wind farm proposals across Mid Wales. Now the Ministry of Defence has raised its concerns that at least one of the proposed wind farms has the potential to form a physical obstruction to air traffic movements and military activities at the Sennybridge training area. If the Labour Government will not listen to the concerns raised by my residents, will they at least listen to their own military?”

The MP was referencing objections raised by the MoD regarding the Wind2 Parc Ynni Banc y Celyn project, around 5km south of Builth Wells. Officials warned that the proposed turbines could interfere with military activities at the Sennybridge Training Area, one of the UK’s most important training sites.

Documents seen by the Brecon & Radnor Express show that the Defence Infrastructure Organisation’s Safeguarding team was consulted on a scoping request for Parc Ynni Banc y Celyn in March 2025. In April, the MoD issued a letter warning the turbines could obstruct air traffic and affect military activities, a position confirmed by then-Defence Minister Maria Eagle in May 2025.

While the Garreg Fawr Energy Park, proposed by Bute Energy around 9km north-west of Brecon, has not yet been formally reviewed, a letter from Defence Minister Luke Pollard in October 2025 confirms the MoD is aware of the application and will carry out assessments once consulted to ensure military operations and assets are safeguarded.

In response to Mr Chadwick, Secretary of State Jo Stevens said: “I thank the hon. Member for his question, but can I suggest that he raises that with Defence Ministers? If he would like to contact me afterwards, I am happy to raise that with the Secretary of State for Defence.”

Earlier in the debate, Harriet Cross, Conservative MP for Gordon and Buchan, told the House that plans for 200-metre turbines in Radnor Forest [Nant Mithil] would “blight the landscape, impact local communities and harm the area’s vital tourism sector.” She called for local views to be properly considered, warning that decisions were being “overridden by Government Ministers in Cardiff Bay.” Ms Stevens pushed back, saying Labour is committed to renewable energy, which brings jobs, investment and lower energy bills to Mid Wales, and suggested opposition parties were trying to block progress.