2360219
for development, the development is located in the townlands of Ballykett, Tullybrack East and Tullybrack, Kilrush, Co Clare. The Development will consist of the erection of 4 no. wind turbines with an overall ground to blade tip height of 150m with a rotor diameter of 136m and a hub height of 82m. The development will also consist of the construction of crane hardstand areas and turbine foundations, new site entrance onto the L6132, construction of one no. temporary construction compound with associated temporary site offices, parking areas and security fencing, installation of one no. permanent meteorological mast of 82m overall height, construction of new internal site access tracks and upgrade of existing site track, to include all associated drainage including new clear span bridge crossing of the Moyasta River, development of a site drainage network, biodiversity enhancement measures, construction of one no. permanent electrical substation, ancillary forestry felling to facilitate construction of the Development, all associated underground electrical and communications cabling connecting the wind turbines to the wind farm substation and to the existing Tullabrack 110kV Substation. This application is seeking a ten year permission and a 35 year operational life from the date of commissioning of the wind farm. The Planning Application is accompanied by an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIAR) and a Natura Impact Assessment (NIS)
Core Refusal Reason
Significant adverse visual impact on the rural landscape and injury to residential amenities, compounded by inadequate environmental assessments regarding water quality and protected European sites.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The proposed turbines, due to their 150m height and scale, would be visually overbearing and constitute a prominent, piecemeal feature that would seriously injure the visual amenities and character of the low-lying rural landscape.
- The development would negatively impact residential amenities through noise, disturbance, and visual intrusion, failing to strike an appropriate balance between renewable energy goals and the protection of neighboring properties.
- There are significant omissions in the environmental assessments (EIAR and NIS), particularly regarding impacts on water quality in Poulnasherry Bay and potential risks to protected species like the Freshwater Pearl Mussel and Lesser Horseshoe bat.