Galway Bay fm newsroom – Approval has been given for a new windfarm in Moycullen.
An Bord Pleanála has granted planning permission for a wind farm with 11 wind turbines and a substation at Knockranny.
This is despite several appeals to the higher planning authority against the development.
The county council originally granted planning permission for the windfarm in Knockranny with conditions attached.
However that decision was appealed by groups such as An Taisce and Irish Peatland Conservation Council.
Concerns were raised about the impact of the windfarm on the local environment.
In deciding to allow the project go ahead, An Bord Pleanála states that it would not have significant negative effects on the local community, would not cause pollution and would not have detrimental effects on the landscape.
This is despite An Bord Pleanála’s own inspector recommending refusal of the wind farm.
There are 17 conditions attached to the grant of planning permission.
One condition requires that all environmental, construction and ecological mitigation measures set out in the Environmental Impact Statement and the Natura Impact Statement be implemented.
The developers, Western Power Developments Limited have 10 years to build the wind farm and the permission will then be for 25 years from the date of commissioning of the project.
Also if the wind farm ceases operation for a period of more than one year, the masts and turbines must be removed.