Courts / Longford / Report
High Court quashes planning permission for large-scale wind farm
Summary
The High Court has quashed An Bord Pleanála's decision to grant planning permission for a large-scale wind farm proposed near Lanesborough, County Longford. The development, which was to be built on bogland at Mountdillion Peat Production Bog by a Bord na Móna subsidiary, comprised 24 turbines with a maximum tip height of 185 metres. Mr Justice Richard Humphreys upheld a judicial review challenge brought by environmentalist Peter Sweetman, finding that the application lacked sufficient detail regarding the turbines' design contrary to planning regulations. The judge noted that turbine heights and blade lengths had been specified only as maximum dimensions rather than actual proposed measurements. He rejected the board's defence that a worst-case scenario assessment was adequate, stating that applicants cannot seek permission for open-ended projects. The court dismissed several other grounds of Mr Sweetman's challenge, including arguments regarding common sense and constitutionality.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: High Court quashes planning permission for large-scale wind farm. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision
When:
- June 2020 Other
- 2021-06-16 Publication
Why: The judge agreed with Mr Sweetman's argument that the decision should be quashed because the application to build the wind farm did not contain the level of detail required to allow the planning authority grant permission. CNI source report
Case subjects
Applicant
Places mentioned
- The High Court
Topics
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