May 15, 2017
Ireland

Wind farm connection stopped over lack of planning permission

Tim Healy | Farm Ireland | May 12, 2017 | www.independent.ie

A farmer has got High Court orders halting works to connect a windfarm in Co Sligo to an electricity substation in Co Leitrim.

It follows Ms Justice Marie Baker’s ruling that An Bord Pleanala incorrectly decided the works do not require planning permission.

The orders restrains Kilronan WindFarm Ltd and Derrysallagh WindFarm Ltd (DWF) continuing to lay underground cables to connect a planned 12 turbine wind farm at Derrysallagh to an ESB substation at Garvagh Glebe, Co Leitrim .

About 70pc of the cables are already laid and those do not have to be removed, Ms Justice Baker said.

She made the orders after upholding arguments on behalf of Patrick Daly the grid connection works could not begin until there is permission for the wind farm development as a whole, including the grid works.

Mr Daly had in May 2012 lodged a submission expressing concerns about noise and visual impact of the turbines, loss of amenity value and impact on his grazing rights.

DWF has an electricity generation licence dated February 2016 and is authorised to distribute electricity within the State, the judge noted.

The laying of underground cables was generally exempt development unless that falls within certain provisions of the Planning and Development Act, in which case it requires an Environmental Impact Assessment or Appropriate Assessment.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2017/05/15/wind-farm-connection-stopped-over-lack-of-planning-permission/