Friday, 08 August 2025
A proposed wind farm at Magheramore, near Dungiven, has been granted planning approval after the Planning Appeals Commission (PAC) overturned a previous decision by the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council.
The project, submitted by renewable energy company RES, will consist of six turbines located in the Sperrins area. The council initially rejected the application in 2023, citing concerns about the impact on the landscape and the setting of nearby historic monuments, specifically the Magheramore Court Tomb and Magheramore Portal Tomb.
However, in its recent ruling, the PAC concluded that the proposal met all relevant landscape and visual policy requirements, and that it would have only a minor adverse impact on the nearby historic sites. The decision also cited environmental and economic benefits of the development, alongside Stormont’s climate obligations, as weighing strongly in the project’s favour.
The ruling has not gone unchallenged. The Save Benbradagh group, which campaigned against the wind farm, warned that approving the development could set a precedent for further wind energy projects across the Sperrins.
In response, the PAC clarified that ‘no two sites are the same’, and emphasised that every planning application must be assessed on its own merits and in the specific policy context of the time. The commission rejected the idea that this approval would automatically open the door to similar developments in the area.
The decision has been welcomed by RES, the project developer. Jennifer McCorry, Project Manager at RES, said:
“Magheramore has been carefully designed to fit sensitively into the existing landscape and we warmly welcome the decision, which unlocks much-needed investment in the local economy.”
The ruling marks the latest development in Northern Ireland’s evolving renewable energy landscape, reflecting a balance between local heritage concerns and broader climate policy goals.
Northern Ireland’s commitment to renewable energy, particularly wind power, has become a central pillar of its climate and energy strategy in recent years. As part of the UK’s legally binding 2050 net-zero emissions target, the Northern Ireland Executive has outlined ambitious goals for increasing the share of electricity generated from renewable sources.
Under the Northern Ireland Energy Strategy: ‘The Path to Net Zero Energy’, published in 2021, the Executive set a target for at least 70% of electricity consumption to come from renewable sources by 2030.
Wind energy currently plays a dominant role in reaching that goal, with onshore wind accounting for approximately 85% of renewable electricity generation in Northern Ireland.
The strategy also prioritises the need for a resilient, decentralised, and decarbonised energy system, which includes facilitating new wind and solar projects in line with local planning rules and environmental protections.
Wind farm developments must comply with:
Strategic Planning Policy Statement (SPPS) for Northern Ireland, which outlines high-level guidance on sustainable development,
Planning Policy Statement 18 (PPS 18): Renewable Energy, which provides detailed criteria for assessing renewable energy proposals, including landscape character, visual impact, and effects on heritage assets.
This planning framework aims to balance the benefits of renewable energy with the need to protect the environment, cultural heritage, and community interests. Decisions like the PAC’s ruling on Magheramore reflect this balancing act, weighing relatively minor adverse impacts against national climate obligations and energy security considerations.
Northern Ireland already hosts several operational onshore wind farms:
SSE Renewables operates 117 MW across five sites, including the 73 MW Slieve Kirk Wind Park, 34.5 MW Tievnameenta, and 9 MW Bessy Bell 2, collectively powering tens of thousands of homes.
Other key projects include Slieve Rushen Wind Farm (18 turbines, 54 MW) near Fermanagh, and the older Garves Wind Farm near Dunloy, comprising 5 turbines and 15 MW capacity.
Looking at the broader landscape:
As of September 2023, Northern Ireland had approximately 82 onshore wind sites with 586 turbines, totalling around 1.2 GW of installed wind capacity.
Despite the strong infra, the rate of new connections has slowed: only four new wind farms, adding just 108 MW, have gone live this decade.
Renewable electricity generation has also declined in recent years. From 45.8 % of total electricity in 2023, the share fell further to about 43.5 % in 2024, with onshore wind still providing over 80 % of renewables.
The shortfall in generation is partly due to grid constraints and ‘dispatch down’, which are periods when wind output must be curtailed because the grid cannot absorb it. In December 2024, nearly 40 % of wind generation went unused, severely impacting renewable targets.
Despite strong policy support, wind energy developments in Northern Ireland frequently encounter local opposition, especially in areas of outstanding natural beauty, high landscape sensitivity, or cultural significance like the Sperrins. Community groups often raise concerns about:
Visual and noise impacts,
Effects on tourism and natural heritage,
Fears of ‘development creep’ or setting planning precedents.
The PAC’s comments in the Magheramore case (that each site must be assessed individually and does not automatically create a precedent) reaffirm the principle that planning decisions are case-specific, even within a pro-renewables policy climate.
Northern Ireland boasts significant wind energy capacity and ambition, with multiple operational wind farms contributing substantially to its renewable mix. However, the slowdown in new development, grid limitations, and a recent decline in renewables’ output mean meeting the legally binding 80 % renewable electricity target by 2030 will require urgent policy action. Robust support mechanisms, enhanced grid infrastructure, and strategic planning are essential to revitalise onshore wind development and harness the region’s full clean energy potential.
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