Plans outlined for 12 wind turbines on Offaly/Westmeath border
Draft plans have emerged for a large 12-turbine windfarm on the Offaly/Westmeath border, which is being proposed by BnM (formerly Bord na Móna) and SSE Renewables.
The Bellair Wind Farm project was first mooted last year, with the specific details around the potential number of turbines emerging for the first time in recent days.
BnM and SSE said the development is to be situated in the Bellair North and Bellair South bogs, "adjacent to the communities of Ballinahown, Ballycumber, Castledaly, Moate and Tubber".
The 12 proposed turbines would each have a maximum blade tip height of 220 metres, and a planning application for the project is intended to be lodged directly with An Coimisiún Pleanála in mid-2027.
The windfarm development is being opposed by the Bellair Bog Community Group, which is highlighting the project's visual impact on Bellair Hill, adjacent to the windfarm site.
The Bellair Bog group also noted a planning application has already been submitted earlier this year for the 15-turbine Lemanaghan Wind Farm, to the south of Bellair bog, meaning if both projects went ahead it would result in 27 new wind turbines being erected in and around north west Offaly.
A map of the proposed Bellair Wind Farm shows that the development would be located to the south of Moate, between Ballinahown and Ballycumber, with seven of the turbines in county Offaly, four in Westmeath, and one on the border between the two counties.
Last year, public consultation sessions on the development took place in Moate, Ballinahown and Ballycumber.
A report from developers stated that, following these consultations, "the project team progressed the design of the proposed wind farm" and developed a draft 12-turbine layout.
BnM and SSE said the turbines of up to 220 metres in height would be "positioned to maintain a minimum setback distance of four times the overall blade tip height (880 metres) from the nearest residential property".
The companies involved added that consultation meetings would be held with An Coimisiún Pleanála to determine whether the project can receive Strategic Infrastructure Development (SID) status, which would allow the planning bid to bypass local county councils and be submitted directly to the planning commission.
According to BnM and SSE, the project would "typically support 100-120 jobs at peak construction" and would bring "a number of long-term, high quality technical jobs in operations and maintenance".
The developers are to hold three more "community engagement sessions" on the plans next month. These are being held in the Carmelite Centre in Moate (September 8), in Ballinahown Community Hall (September 9) and in Ballycumber Community Centre (September 10), from 5pm to 8.30pm in each case.
A leaflet opposing the windfarm development, from the Bellair Bog Community Group, highlighted the "cumulative impact" of the project in tandem with the proposed 15-turbine Lemanaghan Wind Farm nearby.
"Renewable energy is important. But supporting renewable energy should never mean that we stop asking questions about where development happens, how much one area should be expected to take, and what might be lost in the process," the group said.
An Coimisiún Pleanála is due to make a decision on the Lemanaghan Wind Farm planning application by March 25 next year.