Billionaire James Dyson faces objection over plans for helipad at his luxury Irish country estate

Seán McCárthaigh

British billionaire businessman and inventor James Dyson has been accused of placing his “travelling convenience” over environmental concerns with his plans to construct a new helicopter landing area at his luxury country home on the banks of the River Blackwater.

An appeal has been lodged with An Coimisiún Pleanála against a decision of Waterford City and County Council to grant planning permission for the helicopter landing pad as well as a new wastewater treatment for Ballynatray House on the Ballynatray Estate on the Cork-Waterford border outside Youghal.

The plans for the helicopter landing area have been criticised for disturbing local wildlife “for the sake of one person’s travelling convenience.”

The planning application for the helicopter landing area was made in the name of the manager of Ballynatray Estate, Christopher Nicholson.

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

Its previous owner, Henry Gwyn-Jones, a British property developer had bought the estate for over €11 million in 2004.

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 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.

An environmental report submitted with the planning application said it had been “objectively concluded that the proposed development will not adversely affect the integrity of Natura 2000 sites and there is no reasonable scientific doubt in relation to this conclusion.”

A consultant hired by the applicant said the ecological impact would be “low and localised in the long term”

He added: “Although there may be short-term disturbance during the work phase no significant impacts on birds or important mammals are expected to occur.”

Other reports also said the proposed development would have no impact on the house was constructed in 1795-1797.

The objector, David Orr, who lives across from Ballynatray House on the opposite side of the Blackwater, said the helicopter landing area would have a high impact on the surrounding environment from helicopters approaching, taking off and landing.

Mr Orr claimed the relatively low-level approach currently used by a helicopter landing at Ballynatray House was directly over Ardsallagh Woodlands which was part of a Special Conservation Area.

He said it posed “a high risk of disturbance to wildlife within the surrounding area” which was home to a large number of species of birds and mammals.

Mr Orr said the woodlands were 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.

He claimed that “this little oasis” was very vulnerable to disturbance and that the intrusion of helicopters into an environmentally sensitive area would be detrimental.

“It seems to be that for the sake of one person’s travelling convenience a large number of both human and non-human inhabitants of this area are going to be disturbed,” observed Mr Orr.

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

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

The council granted planning permission for the development on June 27th, subject to eight conditions. This decision was subsequently appealed to An Coimisiún Pleanála on July 22nd by David Orr, but was deemed invalid. He then submitted another appeal on July 24th.

A ruling on the appeal is due by the end of November 2025.