Nant Helen Surface Mine Coelbren Neath Powys

This site has had 3 applications since 2023.

• 25/0320/SO Awaiting decision

  Nant Helen Surface Mine Coelbren Neath Powys

  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)

  Submitted 28 Feb 2025 Outline
• 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

1. 28 Apr 2023

   Received by Powys

2. 25 May 2023

   Validated

   Checked as complete and ready for consideration.

3. 13 Aug 2026

   Added to PlanIndex

4. Decision

   Awaiting decision

   Decision expected by 20 July 2023, 8 weeks from validation under the statutory target for most applications. Extensions of time are common and are agreed case by case.

   Powys took a median of 66 days over the applications it decided in the last year.

• 21/0559/OUT Granted

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

  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

  Decided 5 Aug 2021 Outline

This application is with Powys for determination, against a statutory target of eight weeks. Over the last year Powys decided condition discharge and variation applications in a median of 64 days. More in our guide to how long planning decisions take.

This application deals with conditions on an existing permission, supplying the details a condition requires or asking to vary or remove one, without reopening the permission itself. More in our guide to planning application types.

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

  21/0559/OUT Submitted 24 Mar 2021 250 yards away

  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

  Granted Outline Demolition 265 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 300 yards 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

• Nant Helen Surface Mine Coelbren Neath Powys

  25/0320/SO Submitted 28 Feb 2025 300 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

  23/0694/RES Submitted 28 Apr 2023 350 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

• P/26/0553/DIS Granted

  Welshpool Church In Wales Primary School, Gungrog Road, Welshpool, SY21 7EJ

  Discharge of conditions 31, 32 & 33 of planning approval 23/1948/FUL

  Received 2 Jul, published by the council 28 Jul 2026 Conditions
• P/26/1125/VAR Awaiting decision

  TY SARON, PONTDOLGOCH, CAERSWS, SY17 5NJ

  Discharge of Section 106 legal agreement relating to planning permission M20020174

  Received 1 Oct, published by the council 6 Oct 2026 Conditions
• P/26/0858/DIS Refused

  Land adjacent to 37 Gorof Road, Gorof Road, Lower Cwmtwrch, Ystradgynlais, SA9 1DX

  Discharge of condition 13 attached to planning approval 22/0479/FUL

  Received 18 Aug, published by the council 28 Aug 2026 Conditions
• P/26/1099/DIS Awaiting decision

  Land At Former Flats - Pen Y Bryn And Ael Y Bryn Ystradgynlais Powys SA9 1JA

  Discharge of condition 16 & 17 of planning approval 23/0485/FUL

  Received 28 Sep, published by the council 9 Oct 2026 Conditions
• P/26/0688/DIS Granted

  Highfield, Heldre Lane, Buttington, Welshpool, SY21 8SX

  Discharge of condition 3 of planning approval 24/0395/FUL

  Received 23 Jul, published by the council 13 Aug 2026 Conditions