A proposed wind farm in Powys is facing renewed scrutiny after the Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed it has raised concerns about potential impacts on low-flying aircraft training and military operations at the Sennybridge Training Area (SENTA).

The response follows weeks of silence from the MoD after early warnings that the Parc Ynni Banc y Celyn energy park, planned near Upper Chapel, could fall foul of a 10-kilometre exclusion zone outlined in Powys County Council’s Local Development Plan (LDP).

Now, Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe MP David Chadwick has intervened, warning that new turbines on the site may interfere with vital training routes across mid Wales - an area considered strategically important to UK defence readiness.

Mr Chadwick told the Brecon & Radnor Express he was informed by the MoD that turbines could force aircraft to divert from key low-flying zones. He also claimed that RAF personnel at a recent briefing appeared unaware of the MoD’s own formal response to the project.

“It is vital that all relevant information is now put on the table,” said the MP.

“We must strike the right balance between delivering clean energy and protecting the operational needs of our armed forces. I will continue to press for full transparency on this matter.”

Developer Wind2 previously said it had been in regular contact with the MoD and, as of June 6, had not been made aware of any safeguarding objections.

But now, in a delayed statement issued to this newspaper, the MoD confirmed it has been consulted on the project and has responded with concerns.

According to the department, the proposed wind turbines do have the potential to affect both low-flying aircraft activities in the area and military training at the Sennybridge Training Area.

The MoD also indicated that, should a formal planning application be submitted, it would carry out appropriate assessments and provide a full response at that stage.

The proposed Parc Ynni Banc y Celyn project, led by Wind2, includes plans for up to 27 wind turbines reaching 200 metres in height, a 30MW solar farm and up to 50MW of battery storage. The development would span more than 1,200 hectares near the villages of Upper Chapel, Gwenddwr, Crickadarn, Erwood, and Merthyr Cynog.

In a previous statement, Wind2 acknowledged the importance of SENTA but claimed Powys County Council did not raise the 10km exclusion zone during early-stage discussions. The council has since confirmed the safeguarding policy remains in force, stating that “development proposals must not have an unacceptable adverse impact” on military infrastructure.

Yscir with Honddu Isaf and Llanddew county councillor Iain McIntosh has sharply criticised the council for what he described as a failure to uphold its own planning safeguards.

“The result is that false hope has been given to local landowners who stood to benefit financially, and to the wider community who were led to believe they could receive up to £1 million a year in community funding - when in reality, the project should not have progressed this far in the first place,” he said.

Wind2 has submitted a scoping request to Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW) but has not yet lodged a formal planning application.