Decision to reject Laois windfarm over bats overturned

An Bord Pleanala has given the green light for eight 185 metre high wind turbines in Laois.

Statkraft Ireland’s plans for the turbines in the townlands of Dernacart Forest Upper and Forest Lower four kilometres northwest of Mountmellick were rejected by Laois County Council in April of 2021. 

Laois County Council refused the application on the grounds of the negative impact it could have for local bat populations.

That decision was appealed to An Bord Pleanala by Statkraft Ireland in May of 2021. 

An An Bord Pleanala’s Inspector outlined the location of the planned development within Laois County Council’s development plan. 

“Proposed development site is located within an area whereby wind energy is ‘open for consideration’, as identified within the Wind Energy map of the Laois County Development Plan,” the Inspector found. 

The Inspector summarised Statkraft’s position in relation to the project in a number of points. These include the following: 

“The site is within an area identified by Laois County Council as being suitable for wind, if the current proposal does not proceed, Laois County Council will be significantly deficient in their contribution to onshore renewal energy targets.”  

“Laois, compared to other counties falls short in its designations for wind energy development.”  

“The proposed locations of turbines have been chosen to avoid impacts to biodiversity and to avoid areas of moderate activity.”

“The potential impact on bats has been clearly demonstrated in the submitted documentation with the application. The impact to bat populations is considered to be slight to imperceptible residual negative effect with the mitigation measures implemented, there is therefore no reason why the proposed development cannot proceed.”

“Reference is made to Moanvane Wind Farm Project ABP 301619 and Pinewood Wind Farm Project 248518 in which national need was balanced against the local impacts.” 

A submission was also made by Kieran Cummins on behalf of the Mountmellick Wind Turbine Impact. The Inspector’s summary of the group’s concerns ran to over three pages and included:

“Proposal should have been refused in relation to recreation, tourism, H&S and infrasound, landscape and visual, biodiversity, archaeology, architecture and cultural heritage, landscape character assessment, legal issues, drainage and wells, distribution to utilities, devaluation, the proposal and sustainability.” 

“Potential for tourism and economic impacts, reference to development plan and local area plan policies supporting tourism and recreation.”

The group raised concerns about bats and other wildlife in the area. 

On assessing the appeal, An Bord Pleanala decided to grant permission subject to 26 conditions. 

These conditions include the need for a bond, annual studies by a bird specialist and the monitoring of bats in the area. A traffic plan will be required for the transportation of the turbines, a shadow flicker monitoring plan must be agreed with Laois County Council.

The turbines will be constructed within ten years and the planning permission will be valid for 30 years from the commissioning of the wind farm.