CSR was appointed by the County Council to carry out a Landscape Character Assessment (LCA) of South Tipperary to inform spatial development policy for certain development types including wind farms, afforestation and telecommunications infrastructure. The LCA was carried out in accordance with guidance published by the DEHLG in 2000. The methodology involved GIS mapping, extensive survey and public consultation to identify landscape values and sensitivity.

CSR was subsequently appointed to produce a Wind Energy Development Strategy, based on the LCA, identifying preferred areas, areas open for consideration and areas unsuitable for wind energy development in the county. The strategy was incorporated in the South Tipperary County Development Plan 2009. It was instrumental in Tipperary becoming the third most productive county in terms of Megawatts of electricity produced from wind, while also preserving the county’s most valued upland landscapes – the Galtees, Knockmealdowns and Slivenamon – from development.

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