Locals celebrate as planning refused for Cork’s biggest ever wind farm at Gougane Barra

Credit: By Eoin Shortiss | 15 MAY 2024; Updated 16 MAY 2024 | corkbeo.ie ~~

‘We feel that Justice has been done, common sense prevails, and democracy restored in this situation.’

The famous church at the lake of Gougane Barra, by Neil Lucey of the Gougane Barra Hotel

Locals are celebrating as plans for the largest wind farm ever proposed for Cork is to be refused permission. An Bord Pleanála has indicated it is refusing permission for a controversial wind farm proposal at Gougane Barra, on grounds that it would “seriously injure” the scenery.

An Bord Pleanála originally permitted the €30m project in February 2022. The Wingleaf Ltd development was to include up to seven wind turbines that would be 178.5m tall – just under three times the size of the Elysian – at the beautiful Gougane Barra valley. The project also outlined plans for a 38kV electricity substation and battery banks and would’ve involved deforestation, quarry work and adding new access roads to the area.

Cork County Council had originally refused permission, citing that the plans went against the Cork County Development Plan and would have been “excessively domineering from very many vantage points over a wide area.” Gaeltacht development committee Coiste Forbartha launched a widespread petition against the plans, with locals saying that, while they supported progress on renewable energy, they opposed the “irrevocable impact” this project would have on the valley.

Photo of the famous church at the lake of Gougane Barra by Neil Lucey of the Gougane Barra Hotel
Photo of the famous church at the lake of Gougane Barra by Neil Lucey of the Gougane Barra Hotel

The campaign received 10,000 signatures from people across 40 countries in the first week – with North Cork TD Aindrias Moynihan raising the issue in the Dáil, saying: “You cannot make another Gougane Barra but you can find other locations for a wind farm.”

A local group took a case against ABP to the High Court in April 2022, challenging the decision to grant permission – which was later conceded by ABP in October of the same year. Yesterday (Tuesday 14 May), planning bosses conveyed their decision to refuse the wind farm development.

In a letter to solicitors for An Coiste Forbartha Béal Átha‘n Ghaorthaidh CLG, ABP said: “The Proposed development would seriously injure the visual amenity of the area, would detract from the character of the area, would be contrary to the relevant provisions of the development plan and would, therefore, be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.”

Campaign spokesman Neil Lucey of the family-run Gougane Barra Hotel said: “We are delighted with this great result, we feel that Justice has been done, common sense prevails, and Democracy restored in this situation.

“We thank the people locally, nationally and internationally who believed in us, supported us and were always there. We wish to recognise the great work of Joe Noonan of Noonan Linehan Carroll Coffey LLP and their legal teams for outstanding effort, Maith sibh.”

Source: By Eoin Shortiss | 15 MAY 2024; Updated 16 MAY 2024 | corkbeo.ie

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