An Bord Pleanála Denies Planning Permission for Three Wind Farms in Ireland
An Bord Pleanála has rejected planning applications for three contentious wind farm projects in County Donegal, County Clare, and County Cork, which collectively proposed the installation of 33 wind turbines.
One of the most notable refusals was for a project by Wingleaf Ltd, which aimed to erect seven turbines with a tip height of 585 feet near the scenic Gougane Barra area in West Cork. Fáilte Ireland, among other opponents, had urged the rejection of this application. This decision concludes a protracted planning dispute that began in 2020 and included a High Court challenge against a 2022 decision by the appeals board to overturn Cork County Council’s initial refusal.
The appeals board ultimately denied planning permission, citing that the project would significantly harm the visual appeal of the area.
In County Donegal, plans for a substantial 19-turbine wind farm near Glenties were thwarted due to concerns about the Golden Eagle’s habitat. Cloghercor Wind Farm Limited had sought permission for turbines ranging from 607 to 656 feet in height on a 5,431-hectare site, with an expected electrical output of between 95 and 136.8 Megawatts (MW). The proposal faced unanimous opposition from Donegal County Council members and received 85 submissions, predominantly opposing the project. Among the objectors was the Golden Eagle Trust.
The appeals board’s refusal was based on three grounds, including the potential impact on the Golden Eagle. The board highlighted that the proposed site is of significant ornithological value and crucial to the Golden Eagle’s national population. They concluded that the development would pose a significant risk of disturbing and displacing the Golden Eagles in the area, which is home to five known breeding pairs. Additionally, the board noted that the wind farm would be visible from the Wild Atlantic Way and within the visual influence zone of Glenveagh National Park. They determined that the project’s height, scale, and location would be visually intrusive and detrimental to the landscape’s character and scenic value.
In County Clare, a proposed seven-turbine wind farm by Slieveacurry Ltd, located 6.5km east of Milltown Malbay, was also denied. The appeals board expressed concerns about the potential impact on the Marsh Fritillary butterfly and bird species such as the Golden Plover and Hen Harrier. The site was identified as an ecologically sensitive area of significant ornithological value and importance to the Annex II species, the Marsh Fritillary. The board stated that, due to the absence of data monitoring the impacts of existing wind farms in the area, they could not be confident that the cumulative environmental assessment would exclude the possibility of significant adverse effects on avifauna.
These decisions by An Bord Pleanála underscore the challenges and complexities involved in balancing renewable energy development with environmental conservation and community interests in Ireland.
