Decision to be made on Banagher wind farm proposal at council planning meeting

A decision is set to be made on a controversial planning application for a proposed wind farm near Banagher Dam.

The application, which has been submitted by renewable energy company RES, will be discussed by Causeway Coast and Glens councillors during tomorrow morning's (Wednesday's) planning committee meeting.

The proposed application includes the construction of a wind farm (with a generating capacity of between 21.6 MW and 24 MW) comprising of up to six wind turbines (max of 149.9m to blade tip with a max rotor diameter of 112m and max hub height of 94m).

The site of the proposed application is on land at Magheramore Road, on the outskirts of Dungiven.

The application has already received more than 160 objections. Only 12 letters of support have been forwarded.

The County Derry Post understands that a group opposed to the erection of the wind farm are to hold a peaceful protest outside the council offices tomorrow morning.

A planning committee report on the application recommends that the planning application is refused.

Sinn Féin Councillor Kathleen McGurk believes that the erection of the wind turbines would have a 'significant visual impact' across the Dungiven area.

"The proposal by RES can be seen from various viewpoints around the Dungiven area and further afield, attracting almost 100 comments from both objectors and supporters,” she said.

“I have taken the time to consider this application very carefully and have come to the conclusion that the benefits of seeing more renewable energy delivered does not out-weigh the impact that this particular  application would have on the local landscape in this instance. 

"It is clear from the evidence submitted with the application that this wind farm would have a significant visual impact across the Dungiven area, where turbines would be visible from several beauty spots including Benbradagh, Banagher Old Church, and most notably, Banagher Dam where the wind turbines will be very close. 

"These are very special assets for the wider Dungiven community and hold enormous potential to develop our tourism offering, therefore its imperative that we protect their natural beauty. I am also concerned that the peace and tranquillity of Banagher Glen, which is a popular walking spot, will be disturbed. 

“I think its important that we consider each of these applications on an individual basis, as it is clear that we are experiencing a climate crisis and we all need to play our part.  However, this does not mean that we take a one size fits all approach, there must be a balance, and therefore, we must instead ensure that each application is considered on the basis of its own merits or drawbacks as applicable.”

Ms McGurk added: "In this case, I feel strongly that the impact on some of our most treasured landscape is too much, and that is why I intend to oppose this application at the planning meeting on Wednesday.  I will outline my concerns and provide a local viewpoint to my fellow councillors at the meeting.”

A spokesperson for RES said: “Wind is a free and inexhaustible resource which has an important role to play as part of a balanced energy mix. It increases energy security by reducing our reliance on imports and builds our resilience to sudden price fluctuations or the uncertainty of global markets.

“The site at Magheramore was chosen for its very good wind resource, and has what we consider to be a relatively discreet location on the side slopes of a low hill. The wind farm would be surrounded on all sides by higher ground and therefore neither be prominent nor highly visible in this particular area. The turbines have also been located at an appropriate distance from residential properties and other infrastructure to further minimise impacts. The 6‐turbine project will not only help move Northern Ireland towards more secure, affordable and sustainable energy, but would bring substantial community benefits including a boost to the local economy and sustainable jobs.

“We are proud of our strong track-record of working closely with the local supply chain around our projects and maximising inward investment opportunities wherever possible. Magheramore Wind Farm could help to drive a cleaner and more resilient economy and we believe that the benefits this project would deliver significantly outweigh any visual impacts.

“We are in a climate emergency, cost of living crisis and also seeking to enhance the security of our energy supply. Onshore wind can address all of these as recognised by the legally binding Climate Change Act (NI) 2022 which sets a target of 80% of electricity consumption from renewable sources by 2030. It is expected that 65% of this will need to come from onshore wind and the 21.6MW Magheramore Wind Farm – which would be capable of generating enough clean low cost electricity to power around 22,700 homes every year –  would play vital role in meeting this goal.”