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Planning application

Land At And Surrounding Nant Helen Open Cast Coal Site, Powys And Onllwyn Distribution Centre, Neath Port Talbot

Granted Powys 21/0559/OUT Outline Planning Permission

Works: Demolition

Permission granted. Work must normally begin within five years of the decision or the permission lapses.

Proposal

Development of a Global Centre of Rail Excellence, comprising of two test tracks of loop configuration being an electrified high speed rolling stock test track of 6.9km in length and an electrified low speed infrastructure test track of 4.5km, with overhead line equipment (OLE) and dual platform station test environment; together with operations and control offices (including staff accommodation and welfare), shunter cabins (2 no.), research and development, education and training, rolling stock storage sidings and maintenance/cleaning/decommissioning facilities; associated, drainage, internal vehicular accesses, branch line rail connection, staff and visitor car parking, lighting, electrical infrastructure (including substations and lineside shore supplies and transformers), fencing (perimeter security, acoustic and stock proof), land reformation and hard and soft landscaping, together with demolition of existing buildings/structures (cross-boundary application - see Neath Port Talbot Application ref P2021/0327

As published by the council, reference 21/0559/OUT

Application record

Reference
21/0559/OUT
Type
Outline Planning Permission
Status
Decision Made
Decision
Granted As published: Approve
Received
24 Mar 2021
Validated
30 Mar 2021
Decided
5 Aug 2021
Ward
Tawe-Uchaf ED
Parish
Tawe-Uchaf Community
Decision by
Planning Committee

Timeline

Dates from the published record

  1. 24 Mar 2021

    Received by Powys

  2. 30 Mar 2021

    Validated

    Checked as complete and ready for consideration.

  3. 5 Aug 2021

    Decision issued: Approve

  4. 13 Aug 2026

    Added to PlanIndex

Cases linked to this one on the register

2 later applications on the register refer to this one:

  • 23/0694/RES Awaiting decision

    Nant Helen Surface Mine Coelbren Neath Powys

    Application for the approval of reserved matters (landscaping, layout and appearance - track and substation only) in respect of phase 1a of 21/0559/OUT

    Submitted 28 Apr 2023 Reserved matters
  • 23/0693/DIS Awaiting decision

    Nant Helen Surface Mine Coelbren Neath Powys

    Application to discharge conditions 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 34, 38, 41, 43, 51 and 53 in respect fof phase 1a of 21/0559/OUT

    Submitted 28 Apr 2023 Conditions

Who's behind it

Company information only, from the register and Companies House

Arup Agent, registered in London

Active · incorporated 1990 · London

254 applications on PlanIndex · across 56 councils · 99% granted

Trade members see everything this firm has filed, how it was decided, and get an email the day it files again.

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Documents

Plans, drawings, consultee responses and the officer's report

265 documents on file for this application

A planning file usually holds the application form, drawings and site plans, consultee responses, the officer's report and the decision notice.

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What this grant of permission means

Powys granted permission on 5 August 2021, subject to any conditions on the decision notice. Work must normally begin within five years or the permission lapses. More in our guide to what happens after a planning decision.

About outline applications

An outline application tests the principle of developing a site, holding back details such as appearance and landscaping as reserved matters for later approval. More in our guide to planning application types.

Nearby applications

Within 0.3 miles

  • Nant Helen Surface Mine Coelbren Neath Powys

    23/0694/RES Submitted 28 Apr 2023 150 yards away

    86% historically approved · decision due ~14 Aug

    Application for the approval of reserved matters (landscaping, layout and appearance - track and substation only) in respect of phase 1a of 21/0559/OUT

    Awaiting decision Reserved matters 21 docs

  • Nant Helen Surface Mine Coelbren Neath Powys

    25/0320/SO Submitted 28 Feb 2025 200 yards away

    86% historically approved · decision due ~28 Apr

    EIA Screening Opinion under Regulation 6(1) of Town & County Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Wales) Regulations 2017 in relation to a Section 73 application seeking to vary conditions associated with the approved planning permission 19/1899/REM (alterations to the restoration strategy)

    Awaiting decision Outline 8 docs

  • Nant Helen Surface Mine Coelbren Neath Powys

    23/0693/DIS Submitted 28 Apr 2023 250 yards away

    87% historically approved · decision due ~20 Jul

    Application to discharge conditions 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 34, 38, 41, 43, 51 and 53 in respect fof phase 1a of 21/0559/OUT

    Awaiting decision Conditions 38 docs

  • Land at and surrounding the Nant Helen Surface Mine site, Powys and Onllwyn Distribution Centre, Neath Port Talbot

    P2021/0327 Submitted 24 Mar 2021 0.3 miles away

    Development of a Global Centre of Rail Excellence, comprising of two test tracks of loop configuration including an electrified high speed rolling stock test track of 6.9km in length and an electrified low speed infrastructure test track of 4.5km, with overhead line equipment (OLE) and dual platform station test environment; together with operations and control offices (including staff accommodation and welfare), shunter cabins (2 no.), research and development, education and training, rolling stock storage sidings and maintenance/cleaning/decommissioning facilities; and associated, drainage, internal vehicular accesses, branch line rail connection, staff and visitor car parking, lighting, electrical infrastructure (including substations and lineside shore supplies and transformers), fencing (perimeter security, acoustic and stock proof), land reformation and hard and soft landscaping, together with demolition of existing buildings/structures (cross-boundary application - see Powys CC Application ref. 21/0559/OUT). (Additional Environmental Info: Revised ES Chapters, Figures, Appendices - Air Quality / Biodiversity)

    Granted Outline Demolition 180 docs

In Powys

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    New Dwelling At Ty Newydd Horeb Cefn Coch Welshpool Powys SY21 0AY

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    Received 4 Aug, published by the council 29 Jul 2026 Outline
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    Received 23 Sep, published by the council 6 Oct 2026 Outline
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    Received 11 May, published by the council 28 Jul 2026 Outline
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    Received 7 Aug, published by the council 25 Aug 2026 Outline