Concern for sensitive breeding birds, including the Golden Plover, the Red Grouse and the Greenland White Fronted Geese, has resulted in An Bord Pleanála rejecting plans for a 25-turbine wind farm in Co Leitrim.
The appeals board has rejected a decision by Leitrim County Council to grant planning permission to Airtricity Developments (Ireland) Ltd for the project in a remote upland area north of Lough Allen.
The objectors included An Taisce and the appeal related mainly to the impact on the ecology of the site and to the visual impact of the proposed development. An observer, Mr John Lovatt of Birdwatch Ireland, submitted that two pairs of Golden Plover have not returned to their breeding grounds since the applicant developed a wind farm at Comeen, Slieve Rusheen, Ballyconnell, Co Cavan.
Mr Lovatt objected to the wind farm due to its impact on Golden Plover and on Greenland White Fronted Geese, the latter being seriously in decline in Ireland. The proposal could also seriously impact on the bog and cause slippage, Mr Lovatt maintained, and the site was not suited for windfarm development.
Planning inspector Ms Máiréad Kenny said the development would be highly visually intrusive and would contravene the Leitrim Development Plan.
Ms Kenny said the proposed development would be highly visible from surrounding areas of visual and recreational importance including Lough Allen and Belhavel Lough. The site was recognised in the County Development Plan as an area of "outstanding natural beauty".
An Bord Pleanála has also rejected on appeal a decision by Leitrim County Council to grant planning permission to Stewart Hydro for a 12-turbine wind farm in an isolated upland area at Tullnamoyle, about nine kilometres north of Lough Allen. The board said the project would be highly obtrusive and incongruous.