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Welshpool wants alternative brown field options for new gypsy site

 
24/10/2025 @ 10:16

 

Welshpool Town Council will ask Powys County Council to consider ‘brown field sites’ only for a new gypsy and traveller site that is to be built in the area.

Powys says it has to deliver more capacity after its site at Leighton Arches reached its limit and is unable to expand due to surrounding land not being suitable.

But at this week’s Welshpool Town Council full meeting, councillors debated the issue with the consultation deadline approaching on October 31.

Cllr David France said the project should be approached just like any other social housing proposal, but there was a strong feeling amongst councillors that farm land or green fields should not be considered.

Cllr Alison Davies also said that the current sites proposed in Leighton, Forden or Churchstoke are not practical as they are too far away from key  services.

So, Welshpool Town Council will write to Powys to explain their stance that the expectation of services like schools, shopping and employment should be taken into consideration, as well as the preference to identify brown field sites in the town that could be more suitable.

On conclusion of the public consultation, Powys will then identify their preferred site for the new development, and has also asked the public for more sites to be considered.

What is a brown field site?

A brown field site is land that has been previously developed, often for industrial or commercial use, and is now vacant or underutilised.

Powys County Council has so far listed six sites it is considering, which are: 

  1. Parcel 1 at Leighton, Welshpool (7.83ha): Land opposite Severnleigh/Stables/Coach House/Granary, Leighton
  2. Parcel 2 at Leighton, Welshpool (11.39ha): Land southwest of Severnleigh, Leighton
  3. Land Holding at Leighton, Welshpool (47.12ha): Buildings and land at Gwyns Barn, Leighton
  4. Parcel 1 at Forden, Welshpool (2.92ha): Land adjacent Forden Village - north of Church Farm/Church Farm Close, Forden
  5. Parcel 2 at Forden, Welshpool (3.6ha): Land off C road C2114, South/southwest of Church Farm/Church Farm Close (opposite Pound Fields), Forden
  6. Land Holding at Churchstoke, Montgomery (8.26ha): Land adjacent Churchstoke Village – Fir House land, Churchstoke

A link to the consultation can be found here:https://www.haveyoursaypowys.wales/site-options.