| A section of the boundary wall at the historic St Mabon’s Church in Llanfabon has been restored through Bute Energy’s social value programme linked to the nearby Twyn Hywel Energy Park. The work was carried out by Terra Firma (Wales) Ltd as part of Bute Energy’s commitment for suppliers to reinvest in local communities. The church, which has been a site of worship since the 5th century and is home to a memorial for victims of the 1894 Albion Colliery disaster, is a significant local heritage landmark. Community leaders have welcomed the restoration, with Bute Energy saying the project demonstrates how renewable energy developments can deliver tangible benefits for local communities alongside clean energy generation. |
| A historic church site in Llanfabon has benefited from restoration work delivered as part of Bute Energy’s social value commitment to local communities nearest its energy parks. Specialist contractor Terra Firma (Wales) Ltd, who supported the energy developer’s early works at the Twyn Hywel Energy Park site, has rebuilt a section of wall within the grounds of St Mabon’s Church – a site of significant heritage value to the local community. Llanfabon, which is part of the wider Nelson community in Caerphilly County Borough, is home to St Mabon’s Church, which includes a memorial to those who lost their lives in the 1894 Albion Colliery disaster. Father Gareth Coombes from St Mabons Church said: “On behalf of the Church that worships here at St Mabons, I would like to thank Bute Energy and Terra Firma for their generosity and skill, in the repair of the stone boundary wall. “St Mabons has been a site of Christian worship since the 5th Century and we are proud that this beautiful Church continues to be a place of regular worship today. “It continues to be a true landmark in Llanfabon and Nelson, with so many in the community having personal links with the Church. It also regularly receives visitors from all over the world with historical family connections. ” Terra Firma (Wales) Ltd was appointed by Bute Energy in April 2025 to lead initial ground investigations at the Twyn Hywel Energy Park site, which is located 2km north-west of Caerphilly, at the foot of Nelson community. As part of Bute Energy’s Social Value Standard, suppliers are required to reinvest 2% of their contract value in the communities where projects are based. The rebuilding of the church wall forms part of this commitment in action. Bute Energy’s Community Investment and Communications Director Catryn Newton said: “Through our Social Value Standard, we’re committed to ensuring that our suppliers deliver meaningful, lasting benefits for the communities where we work. “This project at St Mabon’s Church is a great example of how development activity at Twyn Hywel Energy Park is already creating positive local impact. We’re proud to work alongside our supply chain and local partners to support projects that matter to people, and we will continue working closely with communities to help unlock the long-term opportunities that renewable energy can bring to the area.” Cllr Brenda Miles, County Councillor, Nelson Ward, Caerphilly County Borough Council welcomed the work, saying: “It’s great to see Terra Firma (Wales) and Bute Energy making a difference in our community. “St Mabon’s is a landmark for the communities of Llanfabon and Nelson. It’s part of our heritage, culture and local identity. Rebuilt in 1846, the current listed building is 180 years old this year. “Conservation of this historical site is important to the whole community, and the stonemasons at Terra Firma have done an excellent job of restoration.” Mathew Lake, Director at Terra Firma (Wales) said: “We were delighted to be involved in the restoration of the wall at St Mabon’s Church. As a local business, it’s particularly rewarding to be involved in helping to preserve an important part of our area’s heritage and support projects that benefit the wider community. We’re proud to have worked alongside Bute Energy, the church and the local community to help ensure this historic landmark can be enjoyed for many years to come. Twyn Hywel Energy Park is one of a number of renewable energy projects being developed across Wales by Bute Energy, with the wider programme capable of generating more than 2.2GW of clean electricity by 2030 – enough to power over 2.25 million homes. Once operational, the 14-turbine development is expected to generate enough renewable energy to power the equivalent of 81,000 homes annually. Construction at Twyn Hywel Energy Park has now began as of June 2026, following approval by the Welsh Government in November 2024. |
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