Roscommon County Council refuses permission for 138-turbine wind farm with 168m turbines at Derrane & Roxborough, Co. Roscommon

In context

It is one of 2 wind energy applications Roscommon County Council has received in the past twelve months, against 63 nationally. Of the 84 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 3 January 2024. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues.

The development description, as lodged

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

Permission for amendments to (i) extant planning permission PD18/313, which amended planning application PD/11/126, (ii) extant planning permission ABP-303677-19, which amended planning permissions PD11/126 and PD18/313 and (iii) extant planning permission ABP-307726-20, which amended planning permission PD18/313. The output from the development will be 4.9MW, similar to the extant planning permissions. The amendments will provide for 1. Erection of two bespoke Enercon E138 turbines models in lieu of the Vensys 121 turbine models agreed with the Planning Authority, under condition 4(a) of planning permission ABP-3037726-19. Turbine T1 will have a hub height of 99m, a blade diameter of 138m and a blade tip height of 168m.Turbine T2 will have a hub height of 81m, a blade diameter of 138m and a blade tip height of 150m. The maximum combined output from the turbines will be 4.9MW. 2. Relocation of the access road serving the development, as permitted under planning permissions PD11/126, PD18/313, ABP-303677-19 and ABP-307726-20. 3. The relocation of underground electrical cabling to the relocated access road referred to under paragraph 2 above and additional underground electrical cabling to the proposed modular windfarm control room/switch room and ESB modular MV station referred to in paragraph 6 below. 4. Increase in the hub height of turbine T1 to 99m, increasing the blade tip height from 150m to 168m and micro-siting of turbine T1 by 12.75m. 5. Increase in the area of the hardstands associated with each turbine. 6. Amended substation structure to incorporate a proposed modular windfarm control/switch rooms and an ESB modular MV station. 7. Revised site boundaries at