Kilkenny council's decision to refuse wind farm overturned by An Coimisiún Pleanála

​An Coimisiún Pleanála (the national planning body) has granted conditional planning permission for a seven-turbine wind farm in north-western County Kilkenny, overturning an earlier decision by Kilkenny County Council to refuse planning permission.

The council’s original refusal decision to the planning application from Briskalagh Limited had prompted some relief among a cohort of local residents.

At the time, community group KBT (Kilmanagh, Ballycallan, Tullaroan) Responsible Energy, raised concerns on behalf of the community.

Amongst the concerns, and also a central issue identified by the council in opting to refuse permission, was the proximity of the proposed development to residential properties.

Council reports stated that the turbines, through the cumulative effects of “visual intrusion, combined with noise, flicker, and disturbance of access”, would affect “a significant number of nearby dwellings in and around the settlements of Tullaroan, Kilmanagh, and Ballycallan.”

In its own assessment, An Coimisiún also noted that the development would give rise to “significant visual effects” for a number of residential receptors in the immediate vicinity.

However, An Coimisiún reached a different planning judgment from the council on whether those effects justified refusal.

It had regard to “the characteristics and value of the receiving landscape”, the “localised nature” of the impacts, the absence of significant effects on tourism and cultural heritage assets and “the State’s need to transition to renewable energy sources and rapidly accelerate the delivery of projects of this nature”.

It concluded that the identified effects were “not sufficient to warrant a refusal of permission” and were therefore acceptable.

An Coimisiún ultimately stated that, subject to conditions, the wind farm would “not seriously injure the visual or residential amenities of the area or otherwise of property in the vicinity” and would accord with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.

Another one of the council’s reasons for refusing permission centred on perceived deficiencies in the environmental information submitted with the application.

An Coimisiún Pleanála reached a different conclusion on these matters. It found that the EIAR and the additional documentation supplied during the application and appeal “adequately considers alternatives” and “identifies and describes adequately the direct, indirect, secondary and cumulative effects” of the development.

Following further information submitted by the developer in October 2025, An Coimisiún considered the material before it “reasonable and sufficient” to reach a reasoned conclusion on the development’s significant environmental effects.

The local community group KBT stated that “this decision will be deeply disappointing and concerning for many people across our community, particularly after the considerable time, effort and engagement that so many have given throughout this process.”

They have noted that they are reviewing the relevant documentation and have no further comment to make at this time.