James Dyson secures approval for helicopter landing area on Waterford estate

Seán McCárthaigh

British billionaire businessman and inventor, James Dyson, has secured planning permission for a helicopter landing area at his luxury country home on the banks of the River Blackwater in Co Waterford, despite claims its use would have a negative impact on local wildlife.

An Coimisiún Pleanála has upheld the decision of Waterford City and County Council to approve a planning application made on behalf of the high-profile entrepreneur to develop a helicopter landing pad as well as a new wastewater treatment plant on the Ballynatray Estate on the Cork-Waterford border outside Youghal.

Dyson (78) – one of Britain’s richest individuals and one of the strongest advocates in support of the Brexit campaign for Britain to leave the EU – bought Ballynatray House, a protected structure, and its 850-acre estate for €29.25 million in 2024.

The Commission rejected an appeal against the council’s ruling by local resident, David Orr, who claimed the facility would pose “a high risk of disturbance to wildlife within the surrounding area” which is home to a large number of species of birds and mammals.

However, it limited the number of flights for which the helicopter landing area could be used to 50 per annum and imposed a condition that it cannot be used for commercial purposes.

It also prohibited the use of the landing pad from being rented, transferred or conveyed unless as part of the overall landholding.

The Commission also ordered that no helicopter fuel storage is allowed as part of the grant of planning permission and that a 10-metre windsock mast should be lowered when not in use.

A planning inspector with An Comisiún Pleanála had recommended that helicopters should be obliged to use only one of two flight paths which were detailed in an environmental report submitted by estate manager, Christopher Nicholson on behalf of Dyson.

However, the Commission said such a condition was not warranted as both flight paths had been shown not to have any adverse effect in an assessment report on their environmental impact on EU protected habitats.

It said the various planning conditions in relation to the helicopter landing area were “in the interest of clarity and residential amenity and to prevent pollution and disturbance in the local environment.”

In a submission to An Coimisiún Pleanála, Orr accepted the landing area would probably have a low environmental impact but stressed there would be a high impact from helicopters approaching, taking off and landing at the facility.

Orr claimed helicopters using Ballynatray House would pose a high risk of disturbance to wildlife in the nearby Ardsallagh Woods which is home to a large number of species of birds and mammals.

He pointed out that the woodlands are an important nesting site for a range of birds including herons, egrets, cormorants, owls and buzzards as well as being a habitat for otters, red squirrels, badgers, foxes, fallow deer and stoats.

Orr observed that “this little oasis” was very vulnerable to disturbance and it was a valuable conservation area which “should not be dismissed as of no consequence.”

“I feel that the intrusion of helicopters into this environmentally sensitive area would be detrimental to what is a very special and relatively peaceful part of Waterford which in today’s world is becoming too rare,” he added.

Orr criticised the proposed development for placing “travelling convenience “over environmental concerns.

In a letter on the planning files, Dyson confirmed he was the ultimate beneficial owner of the property which is held on his behalf by Glashedy Fitzwilliam Trustees Limited.

Ballynatray House had been operated as an exclusive country house with guest accommodation by its previous owner but planning files show Dyson intends to use the mansion as a single residence.

The inventor’s wealth, who is one of the biggest landowners in the UK with over 30,000 acres of property, has been estimated at over €13 billion by Forbes.

The proposed helicopter landing area is located around 525 metres to the north-east of Ballynatray House in an agricultural field screened from the mansion by planting.

Planning documents submitted on behalf of the businessman noted that the responsibility of taking on such an important estate and designed landscape was understood.

They revealed that long-term plans included woodland management and the continued repair and conservation of Molana Abbey and Templemichael Church which are located within the estate.

Last year, Dyson was also granted planning permission to construct a tennis court as well as to make alterations to an existing folly.

It was announced last month that Dyson has approved the use of Ballynatray for staging recitals as part of the Blackwater Valley Opera Festival later this summer.