Consultation on Abermule bulking facility to go ahead after application re-submitted

A re-submitted permit application for a proposed bulking facility at Abermule will undergo a six-week public consultation.

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has deemed that the application submitted by Powys County Council includes enough information to start a full assessment.

If approved, Powys County Council would use the facility to bulk together non-hazardous material from household waste collections. The materials received on site will be segregated before arrival and will not need manual sorting or separation. Once bulked together, the materials would be transferred off-site.

The application was submitted on 9 June after a previous application for the site was refused by NRW in March 2022 due to concerns relating to the application’s Fire Prevention and Mitigation Plan.

The application will now undergo a full public consultation. The consultation will launch at 12pm on 12 October and will end on 23 November.

As the proposed development has already gathered strong feelings in the community, NRW will treat the application as an application of High Public Interest.

Ann Weedy, Mid Wales Operations Manager for NRW said:

“We know that people have strong views on the proposed development. The full public consultation will provide an opportunity for these concerns to be heard.

“Our officers will then take consultation feedback into account while undertaking a full technical assessment of the application.”

After the determination process, NRW will reach a draft decision to either grant or refuse the permit application. If that decision is to grant a permit, NRW will then re-consult with the public on the draft decision, again taking into consideration any relevant comments before reaching a final decision.