A £1.5 million off-road riding centre in Powys has finally got the go ahead, after two planning permission refusals and a six-year battle which was finally settled by public enquiry. “This is a win not just for our business, but for Powys,” said Phil Wilding of Nightfly Limited, which is the developer behind the scheme.

But one thing sets this off-road centre apart from the others – it is designed primarily around electric off-road bikes. It’ll also include a purpose-built motocross centre, seven holiday log cabins and upgraded site infrastructure. The site – Rhydblawd Farm, near Builth Wells – has been hosting motocross for over 30 years, but the new centre represents a significant change, and a shift to electric power.

After Powys County Council refused permission in 2021 and again in 2023, Nightfly appealed, which led to a public enquiry at which the Welsh Planning Inspector found against the Council’s decision. As well as the obvious noise and emissions benefits of electric bikes, the scheme’s green credentials were bolstered by a sustainable drainage system, water treatment to protect the River Wye and measures to improve wildlife habitat, all of which helped swing the Inspector’s decision in favour of the development.

Jim Freeman, chair of the BMF said: “This sounds like the future, one might have thought Powys CC would have jumped at a project like this, perhaps they didn’t quite understand the difference between traditional and electric moto crossers, not to mention the other eco-friendly features.”

Written by Peter Henshaw

Top image courtesy of Myriams Fotos – Pixabay