High Court grants leave for a judicial review of Mayo wind farm ruling

THE High Court has granted leave for a judicial review of An Bord Pleanála’s (APB) ruling in respect of a controversial €320 million wind farm in north Mayo.

The decision was announced in the High Court by Mr. Justice Richard Humpheys following consideration of an application by Castlebar man Dermott McDonnell.

The planning appeals board granted permission last June to ESB and Bord na Móna to erect 61 wind turbines on a 5,000-hectare site near Bellacorick, which will have a maximum electricity generating capacity of 172 megawatts when completed.

However, the authority's decision to set the annual community contribution at €1,000 per megawatt was contrary to the Mayo County Development Plan, which set the contribution at €10,000 per megawatt.

ABP's own inspector had recommended €2,500 per megawatt.

Mr. McDonnell, who has vast experience in the wind energy industry, lodged his application to the High Court earlier this year for the board's decision to be overturned.

He explained when the project is fully operational – the applicants have plans for more wind turbines on the site – it would be producing 371 megawatts and the loss to Co. Mayo will be €11,000 per day or €250 billion over the 35-year duration of the permission.

He said: “I very much welcome the court's decision. In the papers I lodged with the High Court, I described the figure which the board set as the annual community contribution as derisory and an insult to the people of the county.

“There is no logic to the decision and no explanation was given for it.”