Cork County Council refuses permission for 11-turbine wind farm with 108.2m turbines at Glasheenanargid Taurbeg and Taurmore, 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 8 September 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.

Permission for the continued operation of the existing Taurbeg Wind Farm, which includes 11 no. turbines, a 38kV substation and associated infrastructure (as permitted by cork county council ref N/02/3608) for a further period of 10 years from the date of expiry of the current planning permission and for the decommissioning of the entire Taurbeg Wind Farm at the end of that further period. All elements of the wind farm are pre-existing and no modifications are proposed to the existing Taurbeg wind farm as part of this planning application. The Taurbeg wind farm comprises the following elements: 1. 11 no. existing wind turbines with a tip height of 108.2 metres and all associated foundations and hardstanding areas, 2) 1 no. existing onsite 38kV electrical substation including a control building, associated electrical plant and equipment, welfare facilities and a wastewater holding tank, 3) 1no. existing meteorological mast with height of 67m, 4) all existing underground electrical and communications cabling connecting the existing wind turbines to the existing onsite 38kV substation, 5) an existing gated site entrance and existing internal access tracks, 6) existing site drainage, 7) existing ancillary infrastructure, associated site fencing and signage. An Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) and Natura Impact Statement (NIS) have been prepared in relation to the proposed development and accompany this planning application. The EIAR assess both the continued operation of the Taurbeg wind farm as well as integral elements of the wider project comprising the undertaking of removal of commercial forestry and restoration of farmland habitat at Coom and Knockatee County Kerry, which constitute offsetting measures associated with the continued operation of the Taurbeg Wind Farm. These offsetting measures are located in a separate planning authority jurisdiction (Kerry County Council) and will be subject of a separate planning application to the planning authority.