Dublin has published long-awaited draft planning rules for wind farms that include a minimum setback distance of 500 metres between a turbine and a residential property.
Planning minister Simon Coveney said the guidelines will facilitate future development while addressing concerns of local communities.
Coveney said the draft rules suggest a “more stringent” noise limit and a “new robust noise monitoring regime”.
The setback distance to be introduced is four times the height of a proposed turbine, at a minimum of 500 metres.
The “elimination of shadow flicker” and the introduction of “new obligations” on community benefit and engagement are also proposed.
Coveney said the rules will undergo a strategic environmental assessment before being finalised in early 2018.
For in-depth coverage of the new planning guidelines see next week’s subscriber-only reNEWS and next month’s Ireland Special Report.
Image: reNEWS
Irish unveil ‘robust’ wind rules
500 metre setback distance proposed in draft planning guidelines
By EBS