Because of Welsh Assembly policy nominating the local area for windfarms there are several local projects emerging. The plan below shows the REP Maerdy project and projects built or being developed by others. Other projects may exist..

Within 15km one windfarm is built – Taff Ely, 14km to the south. It is very unlikely that this will be of any cumulative concern because of its distance away.

Fynnon Oer windfarm, 12km to the west is under construction at the present. The plan below shows the areas that have a view of some part of both Ffynnon Oer and Maerdy (this is called the zone of visual influence or ZVI). The plan is based only on line of sight and does not allow for the large areas of forestry between the projects obscuring views, which may limit visibility further.

Ferndale windfarm is only 5km to the southeast and the potential for local cumulative views exists. The plan below shows the ZVI for both windfarms (areas that have a line of sight to some part of both windfarms). The urban areas that can see parts of both windfarms are limited to three areas in the south

The urban areas that have a view of both windfarms are limited to Gelli, Blaenllechau and Maerdy as show in the plan below.

The topography of the area with winding, steep valleys significantly limits the opportunities for both projects to be in one field of view. Local communities with a view of both windfarms are limited and the views that do exist are generally of the projects either in opposite directions, far apart or with one windfarm in the distance. Views from the three areas are summarised below. The Visualisations Section contains a section on cumulative visibility of Ferndale and Maerdy windfarms with several photomontages from each area.

Within the Rhondda Fawr the only area that can see both windfarms is Ton Pentre / Gelli. At this point Maerdy is over 5km away. A wide, 90 degree, field of view is also needed to see both the projects as they are in perpendicular directions. Housing also significantly obscures views at Gelli. See image below or click  View larger image.

Within the Rhondda Fach, southern areas of Maerdy have a view of both projects. However, the projects are in opposite directions and so never in the same view.

Blaenllechau also has views of parts of both windfarms. Here Ferndale Windfarm is close by and largely visible. Maerdy is 5km away and perpendicular to the view of Ferndale. See image below or  View larger image.