Kerry council plans could 'unreasonably limit' wind energy development

The Office of the Planning Regulator has criticised a proposal to require wind farm developments to be set back at least 1km from residential properties

A wind farm near Abbeydorney, Co. Kerry. Picture: Denis Minihane.

The State's planning watchdog has criticised plans by Kerry County Council to introduce strict controls on the location of future wind farms, which it claims has the potential to “significantly and unreasonably limit” wind energy development in the county.

The Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) said the proposed introduction of the requirement for any future wind farm development to be set back at least one kilometre from any residential property had no sound evidence basis.