Council planners concerned over "potential adverse impacts" of proposed wind farm

Councillors in Mayo have unanimously supported a report presented to them by Mayo County Council’s planning department recommending against granting planning permission for proposed Tirawley Wind Farm.

Constant Energy Ltd are seeking planning permission for the development of a proposed 16-turbine wind farm and other associated works such as a 110kV substation in the Lacken area of north Mayo and have submitted an application to An Coimisiun Pleanala (ACP). The item came up for discussion before today’s meeting of Mayo County Council.

In making their recommendations in their report, Council planners said while the local authority is generally supportive of renewable energy projects within the county, the proposed location is not considered appropriate for the proposed development proposed, as it is located in a landscape that does not adequately provide for the proposed project.

They added that they would advise ACP to fully consider the potential adverse impacts the proposed development, and similar developments, might have upon the 'high quality tourism product' in this location encompassing the Wild Atlantic Way, coastal paths, routes and the sensitive archaeological and heritage landscape associated with the Céide Fields complex.

“Mayo County Council would strongly advise ACP to give full consideration to the potential adverse impacts the proposed development might have, both by itself and in conjunction with other existing and potential developments as well as the precedent it may establish, on the tourism and heritage-based economy in an otherwise marginal location in arriving at its decision on this proposal.”

They added that the Council is still of the view that they would not be in favour of this proposal at this location, a position they originally stated in a pre-planning consultation in August 2023.

Cllr Jarlath Munnelly welcomed the planners report and said that he was completely against the proposal, as it had the potential to cause huge damage to the community in North Mayo. He proposed an amendment to the report, outlining views of elected members, that was accepted unanimously.

In addition, Cllr Munnelly called on Government to put the draft Wind Energy Development Guidelines on a statutory footing. He also asked Mayo County Council to revise the Mayo County Council renewable energy strategy, which he said is significantly out of date. Cllr Munnelly described making planning decisions based on such out of date policy could be ‘dangerous’.

An Coimisiun Pleanala are due to make a decision on granting planning permission to Tirawley Wind Farm by September 28, 2026.