Wind Farm Expansion turned down

by Anton McCabe

(an edited version of this piece was published in the Sunday World May 30th 2016)

The Planning Appeals Commission has refused permission for taller replacement turbines at one of Northern Ireland’s most visible wind farms, Bessy Bell One, near Newtownstewart, Co Tyrone. The Commission ruled: “The adverse impacts on visual amenity, landscape character, the historic (Baronscourt) demesne and listed buildings within it as well as the risks to public safety and protected species are unacceptable.”

The wind farm is on the side of Bessy Bell Mountain, and can be seen from much of West Tyrone. Wind Farm company SSE had applied to replace the 10 existing turbines. They are 56.5 metres (185 feet) high. Six of the proposed new turbines were to be 126.5 metres (415 feet) high, and the other four 115 metres (377 feet) high. The wind farm was to cover a bigger area: six of the turbines were to be to the south-west of the current site.

Replacing the turbines was going to mean large-scale building work on the site. It would also have meant works on the road from Derry port, to allow the turbines to be transported.

In its ruling, the Commissioner said it had examined the proposed farm from several viewpoints. “The magnitude of change would have an adverse impact on landscape character and visual amenity,” it ruled. This was particularly from the west and south.

It was also scathing of the expanded wind farm’s impact on Baronscourt House and Demesne, one of Northern Ireland’s most important listed buildings. “The introduction of these incongruous features into the planned historic view outwards from the House would cause harm to its setting from the view southwards,” it ruled.

The Commission also rejected the wind farm because it could pose a small but real danger to public safety. Part of the Ulster Way long-distance walk goes through the new site. There is no proposal to re-route it. “Whilst there is no evidence that this would be a significant risk, public safety is a consideration where it is appropriate to adopt a precautionary approach,” it ruled.  The wind farm would damage habitats for badgers and red squirrels.

Campaigners against wind farms welcomed the decision. Owen McMullan of West Tyrone Against Wind Turbines said there are already too many wind farms in the area. “I am delighted to see the planners seeing sense,” he said.

According to SSE, the proposed upgraded wind farm would produce four times more electricity than at present. A spokesman for the company said: "We are disappointed with the decision of the Planning Appeals Commission and will take time to consider the Commissioner's report. SSE remains committed to developing green energy through our wind farm projects, bringing with those projects local jobs, economic contribution and significant community benefit for the region, not only during construction but through the operational lifetime of each of our wind farms."

Last month, the Commission also rejected another wind farm at Cloghinarney, outside Ballymena, because of “a very considerable adverse impact on the landscape character of the area.”