Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe MP David Chadwick has secured a meeting with a Defence Minister after raising concerns in Parliament about proposed wind farm developments near the Sennybridge Training Area.

During Defence questions in the House of Commons, the Welsh Liberal Democrat MP highlighted Ministry of Defence (MoD) concerns about the potential impact of large-scale renewable energy projects on military operations around Sennybridge.

Mr Chadwick told MPs that the training area was of “vital national importance” and noted that local farmers had previously surrendered land for the national interest. He said the MoD had raised concerns about wind farm proposals that could create “a physical obstruction to air traffic movements and military operations”.

He asked Minister of State for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard what the Government was doing to support defence investment in Wales at sites such as Sennybridge and requested a meeting to discuss the proposals alongside Merthyr Cynog Community Council.

Responding, Mr Pollard said every nation of the UK would benefit from the Government’s defence investment plans and highlighted investment already announced in Wales.

The minister added: “The MoD’s main objection to the development of wind farms predominantly relates to the impact on air defence radars.”

He agreed to meet Mr Chadwick to discuss the matter further.

The intervention follows ongoing debate over local renewable energy proposals, including the proposed Parc Ynni Banc y Celyn development by Wind2 and Bute Energy’s Garreg Fawr Energy Park.

The Banc y Celyn scheme includes plans for up to 27 wind turbines reaching 200 metres in height, alongside a solar farm and battery storage facilities. The project would cover more than 1,200 hectares near Upper Chapel, Gwenddwr, Crickadarn, Erwood and Merthyr Cynog.

Garreg Fawr Energy Park, proposed by Bute Energy, would be located around nine kilometres north-west of Brecon and include 22 wind turbines. The scheme is also currently at an early stage of the planning process, with a request for an environmental impact assessment scoping direction submitted to Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW).

Speaking after the exchange, Mr Chadwick said: “The Welsh Liberal Democrats have been clear that these enormous proposals from Bute Energy are completely inappropriate for our local communities. Whether it is the impact on local wildlife, our tourism industry, or strategically important MoD sites, these developments risk causing lasting damage to our countryside.

“The UK Government has already acknowledged concerns about the impact these proposals could have on military operations and radar systems around Sennybridge Training Area. Given the importance of the site, those concerns deserve serious consideration.

“I welcome the Minister's agreement to meet and discuss these issues further. I will continue to stand up for local residents and ensure that concerns about our environment, rural economy and national security are properly heard.”

The latest intervention follows concerns raised around 12 months ago, when the MoD said it had been consulted on the proposed Parc Ynni Banc y Celyn scheme and warned turbines could affect low-flying aircraft training routes and operations at the Sennybridge Training Area.