Legal challenge to interconnector clears the first hurdle

A group of landowners have cleared the first stage in their High Court bid to block a major cross-border electricity line.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Members of Safe Electricity Armagh and Tyrone (SEAT) were granted leave to seek a judicial review of Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon’s decision to approve the North-South Interconnector.

In September last year she granted planning permission for the 400kv overhead electricity line which is to stretch from Co Tyrone to Co 
Meath.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The scheme got the go-ahead after previous consent given in the absence of a minister was quashed.

At court on Wednesday it was confirmed that the group’s application for leave to apply for judicial review was not being opposed.

Mr Justice Scoffield agreed to progress the case to a full hearing in May.

Editor’s message:

Thank you for reading this article. We’re more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by Coronavirus impacts our advertisers.

Please consider purchasing a copy of the paper. You can also support trusted, fact-checked journalism by taking out a digital subscription of the News Letter.