Antrim coast £29m wind farm scaled back but council fears damage to protected landscape
The Garron Plateau overlooking the Antrim coast
Saturday 17 October 2026
Plans for a major wind farm in the Antrim Glens have come under renewed scrutiny after Mid and East Antrim Borough Council maintained its concerns over the development’s potential impact on one of Northern Ireland’s most distinctive landscapes.
The proposed Unshinagh Wind Farm, located approximately five miles south-west of Carnlough and five miles west of Glenarm, has been scaled back from 14 turbines to nine, but council officers remain concerned that the development would harm the area's protected landscape and potentially affect tourism.
Despite the reduction, each of the nine proposed turbines would stand 180 metres tall, with the council warning that their presence could undermine protections intended to safeguard the Antrim Coast and Glens Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
Revised plans follow earlier refusal recommendation
The project is being brought forward by Larne-based renewable energy developer RES, which submitted amended plans to the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) in June.
The revised application follows the Department's Notice of Opinion to Refuse planning permission, issued in January 2024, for the original 14-turbine development.
The amendments include reducing the number of turbines from 14 to nine, alongside changes relating to the proposed substation and battery storage facilities.
However, a report presented to Mid and East Antrim Borough Council's Planning Committee at The Braid in Ballymena on Thursday outlined continuing concerns about the development's potential visual and environmental impact.
Council warns of impact on protected landscape
In its draft consultation response, the council said:
“Council reiterates concerns in relation to the visual impacts of this wind farm, now comprising of nine turbines, each of 180 metres in height.
“Council considers this proposal would detract from the high quality landscape and adversely affect the unique characteristics of the AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) , the settlements of Carnlough and Glenarm and the Conservation Areas within both.
“Council are also of the opinion that this proposal would prejudice the designated ACHS and undermine policy – ‘Area of Constraint on High Structures’ which seeks to protect the distinctive and vulnerable landscapes and the assets associated with the natural and historic environment of these areas.”
The council's response acknowledged that local planning policy supports initiatives aimed at reducing reliance on fossil fuels and encouraging renewable energy development.
However, it highlighted the importance of ensuring that such projects are located appropriately and do not cause unacceptable harm to sensitive landscapes.
The Larne Area Plan identifies the Antrim Coast and Glens AONB as unsuitable for the location of wind turbines, according to the council's report.
The council also raised concerns about the potential consequences for tourism, warning that the development's visual impact could affect the area's appeal to visitors.
Four turbines remain within restricted area
A particular concern centres on the eastern Garron Plateau and Scarp Slopes Area of Constraint on High Structures (ACHS), a designation intended to protect vulnerable landscapes from inappropriate development.
Although the revised proposal removes five turbines from the original scheme, four of the nine remaining turbines would still be located within the designated area.
The council's draft response stated: “Whilst this amended proposal has reduced the total number of turbines, four of the nine turbines now proposed remain within the ACHS designation. Council remain of the view the proposal, as amended, would prejudice this designated ACHS and undermine policy.”
While Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is being consulted on the application, it is not the planning authority responsible for determining whether the development should proceed. That decision rests with the Department for Infrastructure.
Developer highlights renewable energy and economic benefits
RES has defended the revised scheme, arguing that the changes represent a substantial reduction in the development's potential environmental and visual effects while retaining significant renewable energy and economic benefits.
Jennifer McCorry, project manager at RES, said:
“Following the Department for Infrastructure’s Notice of Opinion to Refuse planning permission for the Unshinagh Wind Farm proposal in January 2024, RES undertook a comprehensive review of the application and carefully considered the matters raised during the planning process.
“As a result, we submitted a significantly revised proposal, including a reduction in turbine number from 14 to nine. The amendments were specifically designed to address key issues, resulting in a substantially reduced scheme with meaningful reductions in potential landscape, visual, environmental and ornithological effects compared with the original proposal.
“Despite the reduction in scale, the proposed wind farm could still generate enough clean, low-cost electricity to power approximately 45,000 homes every year.
“Furthermore, the project could deliver around £29m of investment in the Northern Ireland economy during construction, helping to create opportunities for local businesses, contractors and supply chains.”
Balancing renewable energy and landscape protection
The revised proposals highlight the competing considerations facing planners as Northern Ireland seeks to expand renewable electricity generation while protecting environmentally sensitive areas.
For communities around Carnlough and Glenarm, the debate centres on whether the potential benefits of the development outweigh its impact on a landscape valued for its natural beauty, heritage and tourism appeal.
The Department for Infrastructure will consider the amended plans and consultation responses as part of its assessment of the application, with the future of the Unshinagh Wind Farm proposal yet to be determined.
