Cork County Council grants permission for 4-turbine wind farm with 60m turbines at Coomatallin Windfarm (ROI) Limited, Coomatallin and Kippagh, 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 21 November 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 development will consist of: The extension of the operational duration of the existing Coomatallin Wind Farm and associated infrastructure (as permitted pursuant to Cork County Council Planning Register Reference 00/6380) for a further period of 20 years from the date of the expiry of its current operational duration. No changes are proposed to the number or dimensions of the existing permitted wind turbines. The existing wind farm comprises: (i) 4 no. wind turbines; (ii) associated turbine foundations and crane hardstandings; (iii) 2 no. site entrances, from the L8586 and L8299 public roads respectively; (iv) approximately 2.4 kilometres (km) of on-site access tracks; (v) a 20 kilovolt (kV) electrical substation and control building with a gross floor area of 74 square metres and associated electrical apparatus; (vi) underground electrical and communications cabling; and (vii) a meteorological mast with a total height of 60 metres (m). The development provides for the installation of an aviation warning light on turbine T4. This planning application is accompanied by an Environmental Impact Assessment Report and Natura Impact Statement which includes an assessment of the likely significant effects of the development; both individually and in combination with the relevant off-site or secondary developments which will occur as a direct result of the development, including the development' s existing grid connection infrastructure which comprises approximately 160m of 20kV underground electricity line and approximately 8km of 20kV overhead electricity line located within the townlands of Kippagh, Coomatallin, The Pike, Drinagh East, Lisbealad East, Lisbealad West, Kilronane West, Kilronane East, Milleenanannig, Nedinagh West and Ballyhalwick, County Cork. This development is covered by the provisions of the Renewable Energy Directive III (Directive (EU) 2023/2413) and it is important to note that the planning application may be subject to section 34D of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. When a notice issues in accordance with section 34D(b), the provisions of article 26A of the Planning And Development Regulations 2001 to 2025 shall apply. The planning application, Environmental Impact Assessment Report and Natura Impact Statement may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee, €20, within the period of - (a) 5 weeks or (b) 2 weeks, in the case of a planning application for small-scale solar energy equipment development or development that is the installation of a small-scale non-ground source heat pump, beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application, and such submissions or observations will be considered by the planning authority in making a decision on the application. The planning authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant permission.