In making decisions on a planning application, a planning authority, or An Bord Pleanála (the Board) as appropriate, must consider the proper planning and sustainable development of the area having regard to, inter alia, the provisions of the local development plan, any relevant Ministerial or Government policies, any submissions or observations received from the public and any planning guidelines issued by my Department.
My Department is currently undertaking a focused review of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines. When finalised, the revised Guidelines will be issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, or subject to enactment of the Planning and Development Bill 2023, as a National Planning Statement, as appropriate. The revised Guidelines, when published, will replace the pre-existing 2006 Guidelines and planning authorities and the Board will be required to have immediate regard to the revised Guidelines in carrying out their functions from the time they are published, including in relation to making decisions on wind farm planning applications on hand at the time they are published.
