Plans lodged for 11-turbine wind farm on former Tipperary bog
Plans for an 11-turbine wind farm in Tipperary have been submitted to An Coimisiún Pleanála (ACP).
Littleton Wind Farm Designated Activity Company (DAC) have applied to the planning commission for planning permission to develop the wind farm on the Littleton Bog, in the townlands of Longfordpass, Clonoura, Derryhogan, Derryvella, Ballybeg, Lanespark, Newhill and Killeen.
The application was made directly to ACP as a strategic infrastructure development, which means applicants don’t have to apply to local authorities for planning permission.
The development of the Littleton Wind Farm would see 11 wind turbines installed, as well as new internal access tracks, the creation of three new site entrances and the upgrade of three existing entrances.
Plans also include two temporary security cabins, an meteorological mast and a 110kV electrical substation, as well as control buildings, equipment storage and welfare facilities.
If approved, the wind farm would operate for 35 years and would have a generating capacity of 68.2 megawatts, enough to supply electricity to thousands of homes.
According to plans submitted in support of the development, between 80 and 100 jobs will be created during the construction stage of the wind farm, with two or three permanent jobs created once the development is operational.
“The employment of local construction workers and the use of locally sourced materials will be encouraged. This will assist in sustaining employment in the local construction trade,” an agent for the company said.
The agent said the development would include around four kilometres of new walking and cycling trails linked to the site’s internal access roads.
“A network of trails forming loops and links is proposed utilising a combination of the internal access tracks proposed for the wind farm and approximately four kilometres of new floating dedicated amenity tracks, with all new amenity trails designed to a width of three metres to accommodate both pedestrians and cyclists,” the agent explained.
Additional parking spaces will be provided as part of this, they said, encouraging walkers and cyclists to make use of the new trails.
The site was previously used for peat harvesting, but this use ceased in 2017. The proposed wind farm will “facilitate the transition of these lands away from peat related activity to a sustainable renewable energy use,” the agent said.
An Coimisiún Pleanála is due to make a decision on the application by June, 2027.