The Llanidloes district in the upper Severn and upper Wye valleys in Mid Wales aims to create the UK’s first locally-controlled emissions reduction strategy which will encompass traditional rural industries and all emissions sources. It will build a community consortium to establish a Carbon Negative District and will eventually provide a methodology for monitoring all energy use and emissions including forests and land use which will be a highly innovative and replicable model. The project will also rebuild local pride and confidence, giving training and employment in low carbon economy.
The complex strategy will include housing renovation, CHP, development of community woodlots and a fuel wood economy, transport reduction, application of new energy generation technologies and progressive land use planning.
APE funding will enable the consortium to broaden its base, fundraise and lobby to obtain control over planning gain revenue from windfarms within the district – estimated at in excess of £300,000 per year.
