Mallon grants planning permission for Corlacky Wind Farm

Infrastructure Minister, Nichola Mallon has today announced her decision to grant planning permission for the Corlacky Wind Farm.

This follows the Minister’s careful consideration of the Planning Appeals Commission’s (PAC) report on the Hearing which was held in October 2019 and is in line with the Commission’s recommendation to approve the proposal. The proposal is for 11 wind turbines close to Brockaghboy windfarm in the Sperrins Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Minister Mallon said:

“This approval was based on a finely balanced decision where I had to weigh up the various benefits against any potential harm to the local area.  I carefully considered both the findings of the independent Public Hearing alongside the recommendations of my planning officials.

While I am always conscious of potential impacts to the surrounding environment, green infrastructure does however represent a real opportunity for tackling the climate emergency, helping to boost our economy and creating a sustainable infrastructure for future generations.

“In this instance, I agree with how the Commissioner has weighed up the considerations in this case, with the exception to their interpretation on the extent to which the proposal would impact on the settings of the archaeological monuments.  However, I do not consider that the impact is sufficient to warrant refusal.  I am satisfied that the environmental and economic benefits are in favour of the proposal and outweigh any potential impact on the archaeological sites in the vicinity.”

Notes to editors: 

1. Proposal: Erection of a windfarm development comprising 11 (3 blade) wind turbines, each up to a maximum of 149.9m tip height, with a total installed capacity of up to 36.3MW, a newly created site entrance, access tracks, crane hardstandings, control building and substation compound, electricity transformers, underground cabling, a number of off-site areas of widening to the public road and all other associated ancillary development. During construction there would be a number of temporary works including a construction compound with car parking, an enabling works compound, temporary parts of crane hardstandings, welfare facilities and 3 temporary guyed lattice type meteorological masts.
2. Location: Lands approximately 3Km west of Swatragh accessed off the Corlacky Road in the Townlands of Corlacky, Knockoneill, Half Gayne and Tirkane Co Derry/Londonderry
3. A Hearing into the Department’s Notice of Opinion to refuse planning permission was held on 24 October 2019. The PAC report with recommendation to grant planning permission was received by the Department on 22 January 2020.
4. Application number LA09/2016/0232/F is a regionally significant planning application which was submitted to the Department for determination in May 2016.
5. Three letters of support and one letter of objection were received in relation to this application.
6. All media queries should be directed to the Department for Infrastructure Press Office at press.office@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk 
7. The Executive Information Service operates and out of hours service for media enquiries only between 1800 hours and 0800 hours Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays.  The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.   
8. Follow the Department on Twitter @deptinfra and on Facebook @DepartmentforInfrastructure

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