Developer of controversial north Mayo wind farm to submit new planning application
RWE Renewables withdrew original planning application for a proposed Muingmore wind farm near Belmullet due to Irish language error
The developers of a controversial north Mayo wind farm have informed An Coimisiún Pleanála that they wish to resubmit a new application after withdrawing the original one due to an error with the Irish translation.
RWE Renewables (Ireland) Ltd informed An Coimisiún Pleanála (ACP) last week that they were formally withdrawing their application which they lodged for a proposed 13 turbine wind farm development in Erris.
The withdrawal of the application came after they were directed by An Coimisiún Pleanála to readvertise the planning application after a ‘clerical error’ on the Irish translation of the public notices.
The Muingmore Project is proposed to be located on 454 hectares of bogland located in various townlands approximately 11km west of Bangor Erris and approximately 4km north of Geesala.
Donna Ryan, Principal Planner with SLR Environmental Consulting (Ireland) Ltd on behalf of the applicant stated in an email on June 11 that RWE Renewables wish to withdraw the application and intended that the planning application will be re-advertised and re-submitted to ACP next week.
A corrected planning notice was advertised in the local media on Tuesday and as a result the closing date for submissions to ACP on the Muingmore Project has been extended to August 7 from the original date of July 6, 2026.
In the withdrawal letter sent to An Coimisiún Pleanála, Aislinn O’Brien, Technical Director with SLR Environmental Consulting (Ireland) Ltd stated that the planning application was being withdrawn with immediate effect.
The application which was lodged in May was met with opposition by a number of tourism and business groups in the Erris region who claimed that the wind turbines which will reach a height of 180 metres to the blade tip will affect every person and business in the Erris region.
A public meeting organised by those against the proposed development took place in the Erris Coast Hotel in Geesala last Saturday.
The original planning statement for the application stated that the windfarm would have a 35 year timeframe from when it is fully commissioned and the energy output from the windfarm will be between 74.1 and 91 MW depending on the final choice of turbine model.
RWE stated that they are committed to community engagement in all of its projects and were entering into a 'pre-planning consultation period with stakeholders, especially local residents, to answer questions, allay any concerns and gather feedback on the proposed project'.
A report on the effects of the proposed development on the landscape and visual commissioned by the applicant stated that while the proposed project will generate some 'residual high ranging landscape and visual effects, principally at the nearest surrounding receptors, these have all been assessed as not significant in the context of the EIA Regulations'.