Public consultation reopens on proposed South Westmeath windfarm

A new period of public consultation has opened in relation to a proposed development of nine large-scale wind turbines in South Westmeath.

The contentious project - details of which first emerged more than four years ago - is earmarked for land between Moyvoughley and Drumraney, some 2km from Ballymore.

If approved, the development would see the installation of nine turbines with a ground-to-blade tip height of 185 metres.

Cork-based company Enerco Energy Ltd was involved in drawing up the plans for the windfarm, planning permission for which was refused by An Bord Pleanála in February of last year.

Subsequently, however, the matter came before the High Court, which quashed the board's decision last October and sent the planning application back to it for a fresh decision.

The latest development in the planning process has now seen the applicant, Umma More Limited of Lissarda Business Park in Cork, submit "significant additional information" on the plans last month.

This additional information included new environmental documentation, updated bird survey data, and a technical report on assessing the impact the project could have on the Hill of Uisneach heritage site, which is 8-10km from the location of the proposed windfarm.

The submission of the additional information has prompted the opening of a new period of public consultation on the project, with submissions being accepted by An Coimisiún Pleanála and Westmeath County Council from Thursday last, July 17, until August 15.

The planning documentation submitted on behalf of Umma More Limited argues that the proposed windfarm is a "well-planned" and "appropriately located" renewable energy project, stating that if An Coimisiún Pleanála refuses permission for such developments it would "threaten not only Ireland’s ability to meet CAP 25 targets but also its legal commitments under national and EU law".

The technical report about the effects of the project on the Hill of Uisneach states that 'moderate' and 'long-term' effects are likely, but that "no significant impact is expected on the Hill’s key landscape, visual, or cultural heritage sensitivities".

The report states that the wind turbines would be visible from the summit of the Hill of Uisneach - regarded as the mythological centre of Ireland.

"At 8.8km from the summit, the turbines are seen within a distant working landscape and appear in a linear arrangement with even spacing and no visual stacking, resulting in a visually coherent development," the report found.

"The proposed turbines will be visible from vantage points on the western aspect of the Hill of Uisneach including the Cat Stone National Monument.

"There is no evidence, however, that the proposed turbines have the potential to disturb or interrupt any visual or cultural links between the Hill of Uisneach and the wider archaeological landscape," it concluded.

According to the original planning application, which was lodged in March 2023, eighteen landowners gave consent to have their land used for the windfarm development.

The site for the windfarm is located 2km southwest of Ballymore, and 6.6km north of Moate, in the townlands of Ballynafearagh, Raheen, Baskin High, Baskin Low, Lissanode, Umma Beg or Moneynamanagh, and Umma More.