Court quashes plans for high-performance rowing centre at Blessington Lake

Planning permission for Rowing Ireland’s high-performance rowing centre on the shores of Blessington Lake in Wicklow has been quashed by the High Court.

Ms Justice Miriam O’Regan remitted the matter back to An Bord Pleanála for fresh consideration after determining its finding that there was no potential for any adverse impact was “not sustainable”.

Therefore, applicant Raymond O’Sullivan of Woodend, Newtown, Eadestown, Naas, was entitled to an order overturning the board’s decision, she said in a judgment.

The Co Wicklow training centre was to include a new boathouse, ancillary building, changing areas, a gym, meeting rooms and a car park.

It was proposed for land next to the reservoir, which has been designated a Special Protection Area under the Birds and Habitats directives due to its connections with the amber-listed greylag goose and the black-backed gull.

Officially known as the Poulaphouca Resevoir, Blessington Lake was created in 1944. It was placed on a statutory footing under the European Communities Regulations in 2010, which created a requirement for a Minister’s licence for certain activities, including sports liable to significantly disturb the protected birds.

Rowing has apparently taken place on the reservoir for the last 40 years, with the existing boathouse dating back to the early 1970s, said Ms Justice O’Regan.

Rowing Ireland submitted the original planning application to Wicklow County Council in 2017.

Mr O’Sullivan appealed the council’s permission to An Bord Pleanála, which gave its approval. He then initiated judicial review proceedings in the High Court.

Michelle Carpenter, the chief executive of Rowing Ireland, said in a 2020 affidavit that the proposed facility is of critical importance to the