Brechfa Forest West (57.4 MW wind farm)
Brechfa Forest West is a 57.4 MW wind farm project in Carmarthenshire, Wales. Its status in the Renewable Energy Planning Database (July 2026 extract) is: operational since 18 January 2018; the record was last updated on 4 September 2018. As a nationally significant project, it was decided by the Secretary of State responsible for energy at the time on a Development Consent Order after examination by the Planning Inspectorate (EN010008).
Planning timeline
| Date | Stage |
|---|---|
| 4 November 2011 | Application submitted |
| 12 March 2013 | Development consent granted (Secretary of State) |
| 24 November 2016 | Construction started |
| 18 January 2018 | Operational |
Project details
- Technology
- wind farm
- Capacity
- 57.4 MW
- Status (REPD)
- operational
- Record last updated
- 4 September 2018
- Operator or applicant
- RWE Npower Renewables
- Planning authority
- The Planning Inspectorate - National Infrastructure
- Planning application reference
- EN010008
- Turbines
- 28
- Address (REPD)
- centred around the Afon Pib Valley, east of Alltwalis and the second area around Banc Llywelau, south of Rhydcymerau.
- Council area (by location)
- Carmarthenshire
- Time to decision
- 71 weeks
- REPD reference
- 3695
Official project record at the Planning Inspectorate (EN010008)
Who decides
As a nationally significant project, it was decided by the Secretary of State responsible for energy at the time on a Development Consent Order after examination by the Planning Inspectorate (EN010008). All Energy Secretary decisions on solar and wind farms. The Planning Inspectorate - National Infrastructure refused 7% of 46 decided solar, wind and battery applications in REPD (median 73 weeks to a decision). Across all UK planning authorities 19% of 10,236 decided applications were refused.
Other large projects within 10 km
| Project | Type | MW | Status | km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bryn Llywelyn | wind farm | 48.3 | refused on appeal | 5.9 |
| Brechfa Forest East Wind Farm | wind farm | 36 | abandoned | 6.2 |
| Blaengwen | wind farm | 23 | operational | 8.1 |
Status and dates as recorded in the Renewable Energy Planning Database (July 2026 extract); the database is compiled from public sources and can lag behind council decisions. Location: REPD grid reference (51.9606, -4.1234).