Plans for a new artificial sports pitch on the outskirts of Brecon have been given the green light by Bannau Brycheiniog planners.

Last December, Fiona Williams of Brecon Town Council lodged an application with Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority for a MUGA (Multi Use Games Area) to be built on a field next to the public toilets just off Fenni-Fach Road near the River Usk.

While the town council lodged the application with Bannau Brycheiniog planners, the site is actually owned by Powys County Council (PCC).

The MUGA is to be 30 metres by 16 metres and would include a gated entrance, goals, and markings for football and basketball pitches.

The total area needed for the development is 480 square metres.

The replacement of a field by a MUGA is compensated elsewhere, according to Mrs Williams, who is the town council clerk.

In a Green Infrastructure Statement, Mrs Williams said: “As such, there is no opportunity for Brecon Town Council to implement additional green infrastructure at the actual site of the development.”

She said that the town council “embeds” the consideration of biodiversity and ecosystems in its thinking, planning, policies and day-to-day activities.

Ms Williams highlighted similar initiatives in other parts of Brecon on town council-owned or managed land. These include a wildflower meadow at Llanfaes Park, securing Island Fields as a community space with a likely planned grass-cutting regime and woodland management to boost biodiversity, planting fruit trees in Llanfaes Park, and installing bird and bat boxes at various sites.

Planning officer Max Webb said: “The proposed MUGA is likely to increase the use of this part of the recreational area - and as such the noise levels may increase.

“However, the site as a whole would already experiences a level of noise commensurate with a recreational site, so an increase is unlikely to be substantial or harmful.

“In any case there are no immediately neighbouring dwellings likely to be affected.”

He said that the Powys County Council environment protection department were consulted on the application and had no noise concerns.

On the biodiversity enhancements, Mr Webb said that the Bannau Brycheiniog ecologist had suggested that the town and county councils should “explore” working together to address this issue.

Mr Webb said: “The proposal is deemed acceptable and would not have a detrimental visual impact, effect on neighbouring amenity, highway safety or ecological considerations.

“As a result, it would comply with the relevant development plan policies.”

Due to this, he recommended granting the application.