Donegal County Council grants permission for 2-turbine wind farm with 126m turbines at UPPER ILLIES, ILLIES, Co. Donegal

In context

It is one of 9 wind energy applications Donegal 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 6 March 2025. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues.

The development description, as lodged

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

CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF 2 NO. WIND TURBINES COMPRISING OF A STEEL TOWER, NACELLES, AND COMPOSITE FIBRE ROTOR BLADES WITH A HUB HEIGHT OF UP TO 85 METRES, A ROTOR BLADE DIAMETER OF UP TO 82 METRES, AND THUS A BLADE TIP HEIGHT OF UP TO 126 METRES. THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT INCLUDES: EXTERNAL WIND TURBINE TRANSFORMERS, TURBINE HARDSTANDS, NEW ACCESS TRACKS, UPGRADING OF EXISTING TRACKS, NEW SITE ENTRANCE, DRAINAGE WORKS INCLUDING DRAINAGE CHANNELS AND SILT TRAPS ALONG THE ACCESS TRACKS, UNDERGROUND ELECTRICAL CABLES, AND ALL ANCILLARY DEVELOPMENT AND ASSOCIATED SITE WORKS