Residents celebrate gas-fired power plant refusal

Plans for a gas-fired power plant have been rejected by a planning inspector.

Welsh government ministers appointed an inspector to consider the application at the former Seiont Brickworks, near Caernarfon, Gwynedd, as it was deemed a development of "national significance".

A final report published on Friday said the plans were rejected amid concerns it "would result in harm to the living conditions of nearby occupiers, in relation to noise and, due to air quality, ecology".

Local campaigners Caernarfon Lân welcomed the ruling.

Developer Jones Bros, based in Ruthin, Denbighshire, previously said its scheme would contribute power to the National Grid, creating up to 15 new jobs, and support more indirect work locally.

But residents raised concerns over air, noise and traffic pollution, as well as the environmental impact, with the site close to homes, a park and hospital.

In the report, inspector Claire MacFarlane said the "main benefit of the proposal would be in contributing to a reliable supply of electricity" and that the application "would be acceptable with regard to climate change planning policies".

However, the "limited economic benefits attract minimal weight in favour of the application".

"In balancing these issues, I find that the harm associated with the proposal, specifically in relation to living conditions and air quality, are compelling factors that outweigh the benefits of the development."

Caernarfon Lân said the ruling marked "great day for Caernarfon and for our local environment", in a post on its Facebook page.