Donegal County Council grants permission for wind farm grid connection works at CROCKAHENNY, LEAMACROSSAN HILL, 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 2026. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues. The applicant sought a 10-year permission, which sets how long they have to start the development.

The development description, as lodged

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

A 10-YEAR PLANNING PERMISSION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF TWO WIND TURBINES WITHIN THE LANDHOLDING OF THE CROCKAHENNY WINDFARM AND ALL ASSOCIATED WORKS INCLUDING TWO WIND TURBINES THAT WILL HAVE AN OVERALL BLADE TIP HEIGHT OF UP TO 135 METRES; SITE WORKS INCLUDING THE CONSTRUCTION OF WIND TURBINE FOUNDATIONS, TURBINE HARD STANDINGS AND ASSEMBLY AREAS WITH ASSOCIATED DRAINAGE; A PROPOSED 38 KV ELECTRICAL SUBSTATION TO REPLACE THE EXISTING ELECTRICAL SUBSTATION AND CONTINUED USE OF THE EXISTING ELECTRICAL COMPOUND; TWO EXTENSIONS OF EXISTING ACCESS TRACKS WITHIN THE SITE; INSTALLATION OF UNDERGROUND ELECTRICAL CABLE IN EXISTING ELECTRICAL DUCTS AND ALL ASSOCIATED SITE DEVELOPMENT AND ANCILLARY WORKS. THE PROPOSED WIND TURBINES WILL CONNECT TO THE PROPOSED SUBSTATION AND WILL AVAIL OF THE EXISTING TRACKS AND ENTRANCE. THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT WILL HAVE A 30 YEAR OPERATIONAL LIFE FROM THE DATE OF COMMISSIONING. THE DEVELOPMENT IS COVERED BY THE PROVISIONS OF THE (RED III) RENEWABLE ENERGY DIRECTIVE III (DIRECTIVE (EU) 2023/2413)