Plans for North Tipperary wind farm withdrawn

Plans for a major wind farm on the Tipperary-Offaly border were withdrawn just days after they were submitted to An Coimisiún Pleanála.

RWE Renewables Ireland Limited had applied for permission to construct an 11-turbine project near Shinrone. The proposed Ballincor Wind Farm was expected to generate enough power for up to 45,000 homes.

However, the Irish Independent reported on Tuesday that planning files state the lands located in both North Tipperary and Offaly were "deemed unsuitable" for new wind farm developments by the local authorities in both counties.

The development is considered a strategic infrastructure development, which can bypass the council’s planning section and go straight to the national planning board. The Independent reports an agent for RWE Renewables said that while strategic infrastructure developments can be considered according to county development plans, An Coimisiún Pleanála is “not required to make decisions that are consistent with it.”

Tipperary County Council’s development plan says that wind farm developments can be considered for land that is deemed unsuitable on a case-by-case basis, as long as they comply with the policies and development management standards set out in the council’s wind energy strategy.

The land where the proposed wind farm would be located is used as agricultural land, forestry and cutaway bog.