An Bord Pleanála has overturned planning permission for a wind farm in Co Cork in an area earmarked for Special Protected Area status for the hen harrier.
Planning permission for the farm was granted by Cork County Council to South Western Services Group care of SWS Environmental Service of Shinagh House, Bandon, last November, subject to conditions.
It envisaged 29 turbines at Knockacummer, in the townlands of Meetinny West, Meetinny East, Tooreen Donnell, Commons North, Knockacummer, Cummerduff, Knockacluggin on the Cork-Kerry border. It was also proposed to build an electrical substation with a control building and two 60 metre meteorological masts.
The board decision upholds an appeal lodged by Mr Jack Roche, of Rockchapel, Co Cork, on behalf of Bruach Na Carraige Cultural and Heritage Centre, and by Ms Viviene O'Keeffe and Mr Ronan Tully, of Tooreennamire, Meelin, Co Cork .
Refusing permission, the board stated that the proposed development is located on a site identified as a nesting and foraging habitat of the hen harrier.
"Furthermore, the site is in an area that is under consideration for designation as a Special Protection Area for this species," the board added.
In its decision, An Bord Pleanála said that it was not satisfied that, given the size and scale of the proposed wind farm in an area of "national importance for the conservation of the hen harrier", the farm would "not have significant and adverse impacts on the hen harrier by reason of disturbance displacement and loss of foraging habitat".