Ballymore wind farm back with planners

The wind turbine development proposed for Umma More, in the Moyvoughley to Drumraney area and just 2km from Ballymore, is back for consideration by An Bord Pleanála.

The development was refused permission 11 months ago, in February 2024 – but that decision was quashed in October by order of the High Court.

As a result, the application has been reactivated, and the An Bord Pleanála deadline for a decision on the application is May 13, 2025.

The application, submitted as a Strategic Infrastructure project, by a firm named Umma More Limited, is for the erection of nine wind turbines and associated infrastructure, at Umma More and adjacent townlands.

There was considerable opposition to the development locally, and some 52 third-party observers were listed.

The intended ground-to-blade tip height of the turbines is 185m, with a rotor blade diameter of 162 metres and hub height of 104 metres.

Each is to have an output capacity of 6.2MW, and the overall generating capacity is stated to be approximately 55.8MW.

The site over which it is intended the nine turbines should be located extends to 337.8ha, and comprises greenfield agricultural lands, and some commercial forestry and quarrying land.

The developers were seeking a 10-year permission, but with the intention that the operational life of the wind farm, from full commissioning to decommissioning, is 30 years.

The An Bord Pleanála decision to refuse planning permission was on the grounds that the development would be contrary to the Westmeath County Development Plan, on the grounds that the policy outlined in that is to direct large-scale wind farms into cutover cutaway peatlands.

A further ground for the refusal decision related to the collision risk of birds with turbines.