Tipperary wind farm gets the green light despite local objections
A controversial renewable energy development in Tipperary has been given the green light to proceed on appeal from An Coimsiún Pleanála.
Carrig Renewable Energy were refused permission by Tipperary County Council for a wind farm consisting of the construction of seven wind turbines on a 78.91 hectare site spanning several townlands close to the Tipperary/Offaly border.
Planning permission was sought for a 10-year development of a wind farm with construction estimated to take 12-18 months, and a 35-year operational life from the date of commissioning of the entire wind farm.
Tipperary County Council previously refused permission for the development saying that the site was unsuitable for a wind energy development, that the development would have an undesirable impact on bird species in the area, and that the applicants had not proved that the development would not have a detrimental impact on the roads in the area.
Over 40 local objections to the proposed development were received, with people in the area raising concerns about the wind farm devaluing their properties, a lack of consultation with local landowners about the development, and the impact it would have on tourism in the area.
Carrig Renewable Energy appealed the local authority’s refusal on the grounds that the proposed wind farm is strongly supported by national policy on wind energy, and that it is government policy to rapidly increase the roll-out of renewable energy to help Ireland reach its climate targets.
An Coimisiún Pleanála overruled Tipperary County Council’s refusal of planning permission for the development, subject to 28 conditions.
These conditions include that the grant of permission not be construed as an agreement to connect the wind farm to the national grid, that the permission shall last for 35 years only, and that after this period, the land be returned to its previous state, and that Carrig Renewable Energy appoint a community liaison officer to be the first point of contact for residents of the affected areas who have issues or concerns about the development.
Conditions were also imposed relating to the height of the proposed wind turbines, that a biodiversity maintenance plan be implemented and that strict noise restrictions be adhered to at all times.