A controversial proposal to build a temporary 122.5-metre-high weather mast near Brecon has been recommended for approval by Powys planners.

The planning application by Garreg Fawr Energy Park Limited for a meteorological mast and ancillary structure for a five-year period on land south of Ffynnon Ffrydyll at Merthyr Cynog will go before Powys County Council’s Planning Committee at a meeting on Wednesday, July 8.

The site is 8.2km south-west of Sennybridge and 9km north-west of Brecon.

Garreg Fawr Energy Park Limited is the development vehicle for Bute Energy for this project, which ultimately proposes up to 22 wind turbines with a maximum height of 220 metres at the site.

The area was previously represented at the county council by Iain McIntosh, who resigned in May following his election to the Senedd.

He had requested that the application be referred to the Planning Committee for a decision.

Merthyr Cynog Community Council discussed the application at an “extraordinary” meeting in December.

The council said that a survey completed by the “majority of households” in the area indicated that 70 per cent of residents are opposed to the Garreg Fawr project.

They also called for the application to be decided by the Planning Committee.

Documents submitted in support of the application said: “The meteorological mast would provide essential data to inform the assessment of wind resources for potential renewable energy generation, supporting national and local policy objectives for renewable energy development.”

Senior planning officer Catherine James said: “There is no evidence to support the claims that the mast would have a negative impact on tourism. The photo montages submitted in support of the application show that, in the locations where the mast is visible, given its design and scale, the structure would not appear overbearing in massing within the landscape.

“It is considered, therefore, the proposed development is in accordance with policy.”

She also addressed the potential impact the mast could have on low-flying aircraft.

Ms James said: “The Ministry of Defence has been consulted on the proposal and has confirmed that it has no objection, subject to the inclusion of recommended conditions relating to aviation lighting, aviation charting, and safety management.”

She agreed that the condition would be included.

On the objections lodged against the scheme, Ms James explained that these relate to the potential windfarm rather than the weather mast itself.

Ms James stressed: “This application relates solely to the meteorological mast and does not include any proposal for a windfarm.

“Officers have given significant weight to the need to support renewable energy and associated infrastructure, in line with Future Wales and PPW (Planning Policy Wales).

“Whilst some limited landscape and visual impacts have been identified, these are not considered to amount to unacceptable harm and are outweighed by the wider benefits of facilitating renewable energy development.”

Due to this, Ms James will advise councillors to approve the mast.

Garreg Fawr Energy Park is at a very early stage and is classed as a Development of National Significance (DNS).

Find out about planning applications that affect you by visiting the Public Notice Portal.

This means it would be processed by Welsh Government planning inspectors at PEDW (Planning and Environment Decisions Wales), who would make a recommendation that is then decided by a Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary.