Cork County Council grants permission for 9-turbine wind farm with 175m turbines at Polnareagha, Ardskeagh, Co. Cork

In context

It is one of 8 wind energy applications Cork County Council has received in the past twelve months, against 61 nationally. Of the 85 such applications decided by councils in the past three years, 74% were granted.

What happens next

The applicant, or anyone who made a submission on the application, can appeal the decision to An Coimisiún Pleanála within four weeks of 22 May 2025. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues.

The development description, as lodged

Verbatim from the Cork County Council register. This is the source for every figure in the story above.

The Applicant is seeking permission for the construction, operation and decommissioning of a wind energy development including: • 9 wind turbines each with a blade tip height of 175 metres, rotor diameter of 150 metres, hub height of 100 metres and a rated output of 4.5 megawatts. • Turbine Foundations, crane pad hardstanding areas and associated drainage. • Upgrade of existing site tracks and construction of new site tracks and associated drainage. • Access from the local road L5302 at Crought, Ballyclogh including a new site entrance for the construction phase and upgrading of an existing entrance for the operational phase. • An on-site 38 kilovolt electrical substation to Electricity Supply Board Networks specification to include control building with electrical infrastructure, welfare facilities supplied by rainwater harvesting and storage tank, a wastewater holding tank with high level alarm, car parking, security fencing and lighting, and all associated infrastructure, services, and site works including a temporary construction compound. • All associated underground electrical and communications cabling connecting the turbines to the proposed electrical substation. • A temporary site construction compound and associated ancillary infrastructure including welfare services, office accommodation, parking, fencing, lighting etc. • Areas for temporary storage of excavated materials. • A permanent meteorological mast of 100 metres height above ground level on a concrete base. • Installation of approximately 13.5 kilometres of 38 kilovolts underground electrical cabling, mainly within the public road, between the proposed wind farm substation to the boundary of Mallow 110 kilovolt substation at Saint Joseph’s Road Mallow. • All associated site works including site clearance and ancillary development including site drainage/Sustainable Drainage System, security gates, fencing, permanent and temporary signage, and biodiversity mitigation and enhancements, including hedgerow planting. The Applicant is seeking a 10-year duration planning permission and 35-year operational period from the date of overall commissioning of the entire wind farm. The Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) and Natura Impact Statement (NIS) will be submitted to the Planning Authority with the application.The wind farm development is proposed on a site in the townlands of Polnareagha and Ardskeagh (Templemary E.D.); and Tullacondra and Croughta, (Kilmaclenine E.D.), County Cork. The proposed grid connection will be installed underground mainly within the public road from the wind farm site at Croughta, Ballyclogh to the boundary of the 110 Kilovolts substation at Saint Joseph’s Road, Mallow passing through the townlands of Kilmaclenine, Croughta, Knockaunavaddreen, Copestown, (Kilmaclenine E.D.), Ballybeg (Buttevant E.D.), Baltydaniel East, Twopothouse, and Caurraghakerry (Caherduggan E.D); and Cloghlucas North, Curraghphadeen, Ballyviniter Upper, Ballyviniter Middle, Ballyviniter Lower, Parkadallane, Carrigoon More and Carrigoon Beg Mallow Rural E.D.).