Powys Council stalls church holiday let and weighs school closure

Powys County Council’s planning authority upheld the refusal of a proposal to convert the disused Aberedw United Reform Church in Mid Wales into a two‑bedroom short‑term holiday let. Inspectors warned that the development would add new sources of phosphorus‑rich wastewater to the River Wye Special Area of Conservation, which is already failing to meet water‑quality targets, and no mitigation plan was offered.

The council’s Cabinet is also set to consider launching a statutory consultation on the possible closure of Gladestry Church in Wales School, the smallest school in Powys with 31 pupils. The consultation could lead to a formal closure proposal for August 2027 if approved, as part of the council’s Transforming Education Strategy aimed at sustaining education provision amid falling enrolments.