Welshpool firm looking to build new four-storey HQ

By Elgan Hearn, Local Democracy Reporter

Plans by an international company to build a new headquarters near Welshpool will be decided by Powys councillors.

The proposal by Invertek Drives limited is for a new four-storey building at Unit C, Offa’s Dyke Business Park, Buttington.

The building would become the company’s headquarters, include a research and development centre, electricity substation, new access and associated works with parking spaces.

The building would provide gross internal floor area (GIFA) of 3,980 square metres over four storeys.

The application will appear before Powys County Council’s Planning committee at a meeting on Wednesday, July 8, after being “called in” by local county councillor Amanda Jenner.

Cllr Jenner (Conservative – Trewern and Trelystan) said: “I would like to call in this application due to concerns regarding the height of the building and the lighting.”

She asked how the “highest height” of the building would compare with other buildings on the business park and other sites near Welshpool.

Cllr Jenner added: “There are concerns regarding the bright flood lights and other outside building lights being left on overnight within the park and this development would add to the light pollution when dark.”

Trewern Community Council discussed the proposal in December last year and while being “generally supportive” also raised concerns on building height and potential light pollution.

Planning Agent, Rhiannon Davies, of Austin-Smith:Lord explained the proposal in a design and access statement: “Invertek Drives is a leading designer and maker of variable frequency drives, devices which control the speed of three phase motors.

“Now part of the Japanese group, Sumitomo, the company is a major employer in Welshpool and employs 340 people at their existing site, formed from adapted light industrial buildings.

“As a consequence of continued success and growth, the company requires more accommodation and has rationalised its requirement for a bespoke headquarters building.

“The building is to provide laboratories, CAD (computer aided design), software offices, admin, training, visitor and administration space.

“The proposed development is located on the last remaining site on the Offa’s Dyke Business Park, close by the current Invertek manufacturing facility.

“The new building will also act as a landmark/gateway and has been designed to establish a contemporary landmark for the company in its home town, appropriate to its functional need, discrete in its location on the edge of countryside and contemporary in its environmental and accessible design.”

Principal Planning Officer, Richard Edwards, said: “Offa’s Dyke Business Park is an allocated site, under the current Local Development Plan (LDP). The proposal is considered to fundamentally comply with the LDP.

“Furthermore, the proposal aligns with the spatial strategy set out in Future Wales: The National Plan 2040, which identifies the Bro Hafren area within Mid Wales, encompassing settlements such as Welshpool as part of a designated Regional Growth Area.

“This designation recognises the role of Bro Hafren in accommodating sustainable economic development and supporting the long-term resilience of rural communities.

“Overall, the layout is considered to make efficient and appropriate use of the site, whilst delivering a high-quality form of development at a prominent entrance point into the enterprise park.”

Due to this, Mr Edwards will recommend that councillors approve the scheme.