Rowing Ireland refused planning permission for centre in Co Wicklow due to impact on wild geese

Seán McCárthaigh

The governing body of rowing in Ireland has suffered a major setback after being refused planning permission for a new high-performance training centre on the shore of Blessington Lakes in Wicklow because of its potential impact on a protected species of wild goose.

An Coimisiún Pleanála upheld an appeal against the decision of Wicklow County Council to approve the development by Rowing Ireland of the proposed facility, including a new boathouse at Burgage Moyle – about two kilometres south of Blessington, Co Wicklow.

The Commission said it could not be satisfied beyond reasonable scientific doubt that the proposed development would not have a significant adverse effect on Greylag Geese – a protected species found in the adjoining Poulaphouca Reservoir Special Protection Area.

It pointed out that to permit the development in such circumstances would be contrary to the EU Habitats Directive as well as the objectives of the Wicklow County Development Plan.

The ruling comes almost nine years after a planning application for the new facility was first made by Rowing Ireland.

A delay arose after the High Court quashed the original decision by the Commission’s predecessor, An Bord Pleanála, to grant planning permission for the project in March 2022 due to flaws in the assessment of environmental issues.

The High Court directed that the planning application by Rowing Ireland should be remitted to the Commission for fresh consideration and determination.

The case arose from a judicial review sought by an objector to the plans, Raymond O’Sullivan, who was also behind the successful third-party appeal against the council’s recent ruling.

Mr O’Sullivan claimed the proposed facility would result in the destruction of habitat and disturbance to wildlife which would lead to piecemeal destruction of an EU-designated site of international ecological importance.

He also argued that there were no overriding reasons of public interest to suggest that the new high-performance training centre should proceed.

Mr O’Sullivan said the development would also have a detrimental impact on the roosting habitat of Greylag geese.

However, Rowing Ireland claimed it had proposed mitigation measures which would have dealt adequately with the potential impact of rowing on the Blessington Lakes.

It estimated that there would only be a small increase in the number of boats on the lakes as a result of the new boathouse, while there would be no rowing during hours of darkness.

The rowing body claimed the location of the new facility was a positive measure for Greylag geese as it was further away from the part of the lakes where they roosted than an existing boathouse used by rowers.

Rowing Ireland said the need for the new boathouse was not to attract new members but to increase the storage facilities for boats for rowers training professionally, who currently transported their boats to the lakes.

It also claimed other potential sites were considered but ruled out for reasons including poor access as well as environmental and health and safety concerns.

Although Rowing Ireland already has a high-performance centre with the National Rowing Centre in Farran Wood, Ovens, Co Cork, it claimed there was a need for a similar facility for rowers in the east of Ireland, particularly those living in the greater Dublin area where there are a large number of rowing clubs.

In its latest ruling, the Commission rejected the recommendation of its own planning inspector to grant planning permission for the project.

The Commission said it was not satisfied there was sufficient information provided by Rowing Ireland to assess the impact of the development together with the continued operation of an existing boathouse on the conservation objectives of the Poulaphouca Reservoir Special Protection Area.

The proposed facility would have contained a 1,598m² boathouse with eleven bays for rowing boats and an ancillary building for safety boats and equipment, as well as changing areas, gym, meeting rooms and balcony.