Four-turbine windfarm at Lands Approximately 1.86km WSW of 175 Gelvin Road, in the townlands of Brishey and Curraghlane, approx 4.8km E of

What was proposed

The application proposed four wind turbines up to 150 metres high, with a substation, access tracks, construction compound and associated works.

“THE APPLICATION 4.1 The proposal is for a wind farm comprising 4 turbines, an electrical substation/control building, temporary construction compound and associated ancillary works. The proposal will also involve off-site road improvements to facilitate the transport of abnormal sized loads. Each turbine will have a maximum tip height of 150m.”

“A 25m radius micro-siting buffer has been proposed around each turbine with the exception of WTGs 1 and 6. The micro-siting buffer around these turbines has been reduced to avoid sensitive features or other constraints.”

Officer report

The site

The agricultural site lies on the eastern slopes of Benbradagh Mountain within the Sperrins Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, near existing windfarms.

“SITE LOCATION & DESCRIPTION 2.1 The site is located within the townlands of Brishey and Curraghlane approx. 4.8km east of Dungiven. It is located in the northeast corner of the Sperrins Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) with its boundary located approximately 2.5km to the north on Legavallon Road. It is proposed to cluster the wind turbines on the down gradient of the gentler eastern slopes of Benbradagh Mountain.”

“The land is agricultural in nature and is currently used for grazing. From the 1940s to the 1970s, part of the site was used as a United States Military Base and Communications Centre. There are remains evident in the form of embankments, foundations, concrete drains and infrastructure across a levelled-out area excavated into the north-facing slopes of the mountain.”

Officer report

Earlier applications and changes

A six-turbine proposal was reduced to four turbines to address visual and landscape concerns, and a meteorological monitoring mast was previously approved.

“RELEVANT HISTORY 3.1 LA01/2022/0382/PAN - Construction of wind farm comprising up to 6no. wind turbines (to a maximum blade height of 150m), an electrical substation/control building, internal access track, spoil deposition areas, temporary construction compound, delivery route junction improvements, and all associated ancillary works - PAN Acceptable 12.04.2022”

“LA01/2024/0574/F - Installation of a meteorological monitoring mast, comprising of 80m high lattice masts, supported by cable anchors, at approximately 21m, 42m and 56m radii from the base for a period of 60 months – Approved 10.06.2025”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers considered the proposal acceptable and recommended approval because its effects on people, safety, homes, landscape, nature and resources were acceptable.

“The proposal has been assessed against the relevant policy, mainly Planning Policy Statement 18: Renewable Energy, and has been found acceptable in terms of the principle of development, impact on the public, safety, human health, residential amenity, visual amenity, landscape character, biodiversity, nature conservation, and local natural resources.”

“This proposal is considered acceptable at this location having regard to the Northern Area Plan 2016 and all other material considerations.”

Officer report

Public access concerns

Further objections focused on the claimed public rights of way, access to Benbradagh, tourism, community consultation, cumulative effects and the environmental assessment.

“Tourism impacts are already considered in the environmental statement. • If position of objectors accepted, this would delay processing of application for many years. • Raises potential non-determination appeal and issue of costs. • In response to these matters, the position remains as set out, principally, in Paragraph 8.136 of Addendum 4- At this time, there is no asserted Public Right of Way identified that the proposal would impact on.”

“Sets out timeline in respect of the processing of the application to date, including the environmental statement and the addenda to that, changes to the application that they feel was due to an incomplete environmental impact statement • States the delays to the application being attributable to the local community are not substantiated.”

Minutes

Who spoke

Two representatives spoke against the application about public access and community interests, while two supporters spoke about reduced scale, consultation and acceptable impacts.

The vote

The committee voted for approval with ten votes in favour, none against and two abstentions.

“Proposed by Councillor Nicholl Seconded by Councillor C Archibald - That the Committee has taken into consideration and agrees with the reasons for the recommendation set out in section 9 and the policies and guidance in sections 7 and 8 and resolves to APPROVE planning permission subject to the conditions set out in section 10.”

“The Chair put the motion to the Committee to vote. Members voted For; Members voted Against, 2 Members Abstained. The Chair declared the motion carried.”

Minutes

The decision

Planning permission was approved subject to the conditions in the officer recommendation.

“RESOLVED - That the Committee has taken into consideration and agrees with the reasons for the recommendation set out in section 9 and the policies and guidance in sections 7 and 8 and resolves to APPROVE planning permission subject to the conditions set out in section 10.”

Minutes