Option 2 – Protect the Sperrins: Object to the Mullaghclogher Wind Farm

Use the email text below to send your objection directly to the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) and Derry City & Strabane District Council.

📌 Instructions:

1. Copy the text below.

2. Open your email and paste it into the body.

3. Add your full name, address, and postcode at the bottom.

4. Send it to: planning@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to submit a formal and unequivocal objection to planning application Ref: SPD/2025/0011/F, which proposes the construction of an industrial-scale wind farm at Mullaghclogher, within the Sperrin Mountains.

This proposal constitutes a serious and indefensible breach of established planning policy and poses a profound, irreversible threat to one of Northern Ireland’s most protected and environmentally sensitive landscapes. The proposed site lies squarely within a Special Countryside Area (SCA) and an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)—designations that are not symbolic, but legally and strategically intended to prohibit precisely this type of large-scale industrial development. The application is in direct and fundamental conflict with these protections. Moreover, it undermines the core objectives of the Derry City & Strabane District Council Local Development Plan (2032), which explicitly prioritises the preservation of landscape character, biodiversity, and visual amenity within SCAs and AONBs. Approval of this application would not only violate the letter and spirit of this framework—it would set a dangerous and far-reaching precedent, eroding public confidence in the planning system and compromising the credibility of environmental safeguards across the region.

The development comprises 11 wind turbines, each reaching up to 180 metres in height, along with extensive associated infrastructure including access roads, substations, and battery storage. This constitutes a major industrial intrusion into a highly sensitive upland environment. The visual impact would be catastrophic, with the turbines dominating the skyline and permanently disfiguring the natural contours of the Sperrin Mountains. The Glenelly Valley, nationally recognised for its scenic value, would be particularly affected, with the turbines clearly visible from multiple vantage points across the region.

The environmental consequences of this proposal are equally serious. The site includes peatland habitats, which are vital carbon stores and highly sensitive to disturbance. The construction and operation of this wind farm would result in habitat destruction, peat degradation, and long-term ecological damage. These impacts are not speculative—they are well-documented outcomes of similar developments in comparable environments.   This application will also have serious impacts on the rich biodiversity of the area directly impacting the River Foyle and Tributaries Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Aughabrack ASSI, an important raised bog. Numerous protected species of birds, mammals (including 7 species of bat), and plants have been documented on this site and in nearby areas.

In addition to environmental and visual concerns, there are well-established public health risks associated with large-scale wind turbines. These include low-frequency noise emissions, which can cause sleep disturbance, stress, and other adverse health effects for nearby residents. Furthermore, shadow flicker can lead to significant discomfort and, in some cases, trigger neurological symptoms in sensitive individuals. These impacts are particularly concerning in rural areas where ambient noise levels are otherwise low and visual disruption is more acutely felt.

The Sperrins are internationally recognised for their rich archaeological heritage, with numerous ancient monuments and historical landscapes. The industrialisation of this area would undermine its cultural identity and sever its connection to centuries of rural tradition and heritage.

This is not a marginal issue. It is a matter of landscape-scale transformation, with consequences that would be permanent, far-reaching, and entirely avoidable. Mullaghclogher is not an appropriate location for industrial energy infrastructure of this magnitude. The scale, siting, and environmental sensitivity of this area, render this proposal entirely unacceptable.

I urge both the Derry City & Strabane District Council and the Department for Infrastructure planning committees to reject this application in its entirety. The long-term public interest lies in the preservation of the Sperrins, not their industrialisation.

Yours faithfully,
[Full Name __________________________________________]

[1st line of Address ______________________________________________________________]

[Post code ______________________________]

Date: (_______________)