Planning

New rules will allow wind farms to change turbine sizes

Amendment to law will give industry more flexibility to use new technologies on projects without reapplying for planning

The wind industry was concerned that having to commit to exact plans when seeking planning permission would prevent it from switching to newer and better technology when developing a project

Wind farms will be allowed to change the size of their turbines after getting planning permission, under new plans from the government.

Until last year, wind farms were allowed a certain flexibility to change the size and design of their turbines as long as they did not exceed the maximum permitted height in their planning permission.

However, the High Court overturned the planning permission for a Bord na Móna wind farm in Co Longford last ...