Planning permission for the development of a large wind farm in a scenic area of north Tipperary has been granted by An Bord Pleanála.
Permission for the development in Curreeny, which will involve the construction of 22 wind turbines of up to 80 metres in height, had previously been refused by North Tipperary County Council.
The planning board has gone against the recommendations of its own inspector, whom it appointed to access the application. In a 20-page report, he had concluded the board should uphold the decision of the council to refuse Ecopower Developments Ltd, of Kilkenny, permission to develop the wind farm.
However, the board ruled the development of the 22 turbines and associated works at Curreeny, and the adjoining townlands of Curreeny Commons, Windygap, Reisk, Grousehall and Cummer, would not have a serious impact on the landscape or flora or fauna of the area.
The board said it took into account national policy in regard to the development of alternative and indigenous energy sources and the minimisation of emissions of greenhouse gases.
The council had previously refused the application, stating that the development would be a contravention of the county development plan.
The planning board's inspector had argued that the development should be refused, given the scale of the project and the location of the turbines adjacent to a protected scenic and regional route - the R497. The inspector also felt the development was premature as the council had not yet completed its landscape character assessment process and wind energy strategy.