David Orr, who lives nearby,\u00a0claimed it would pose \u2018a high risk of disturbance to wildlife within the surrounding area\u2019, which is home to a large number of species of birds and mammals.<\/p>\n
The 70-year-old asked why their peace and tranquillity should be ruined \u2018for the sake of one person\u2019s travelling convenience\u2019.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He appealed against the local council’s decision to award consent, but its decision has now been upheld by Ireland’s national planning appeals body.<\/p>\n
It paves the way for Sir James to make a total of 50 helicopter flights into and out of his estate every year.<\/p>\n
Today Mr Orr said he was ‘disappointed with the outcome’ and would be asking how the cap on flights would be policed.<\/p>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/101328363-15523633-Mr_Orr_said_the_riverside_estate_is_home_to_birds_red_squirrels_-a-1_177014146746.jpeg\")
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The estate on the Cork-Waterford county border is situated on the banks of the River Blackwater\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"Protester](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/101328775-15523633-Protester_David_Orr_said_the_local_woodland_home_to_numerous_bir-a-2_177014147177.jpeg\")
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Protester David Orr said the local woodland \u2018home to numerous birds and wildlife\u2019<\/p>\n
Sir James’s purchase of the Ballynatray Estate represents the latest addition to his astonishing global property portfolio which already saw him own more land in England than the King.<\/p>\n
Under its previous owner, Henry Gwyn-Jones, the fully-staffed Georgian river-front mansion was available as an upmarket holiday rental and 120-guest wedding venue.<\/p>\n
It has since undergone a major restoration project, with the classical-style house temporarily covered in plastic sheeting while work took place.<\/p>\n
Sir James has already been granted planning permission to construct a tennis court as well as to make alterations to an existing folly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But the planned helipad – along with wastewater treatment works – sparked opposition from residents of the sparsely-populated countryside on the Cork-Waterford border, home to species including ospreys, hen harriers and egrets, as well as otters.<\/p>\n
Mr Orr last year\u00a0told the Daily Mail his objections were \u2018purely an environmental issue\u2019, with local woodland \u2018home to numerous birds and wildlife\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u2018When you have a little sanctuary, you try and minimise disturbance,’ he added.<\/p>\n
His views were shared by other locals in their responses to the planning application, although ultimately only Mr Orr lodged an appeal.<\/p>\n
![\"Sir](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/101328465-15523633-Sir_James_Dyson_pictured_bought_Ballynatray_House_and_its_850_ac-a-3_177014147964.jpeg\")
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Sir James Dyson (pictured) bought\u00a0Ballynatray House and its 850-acre estate in 2024<\/p>\n
Gary and Karina Ricken, who live directly opposite the estate, had warned: \u2018The introduction of a helicopter landing area will fundamentally alter this natural soundscape, replacing birdsong and the sounds of nature with the intrusive noise of rotor blades.\u2019<\/p>\n
Meanwhile David Naylor said the Blackwater River was \u2018continually under attack from more, bigger, better, be it housing, buildings, boats and jetskis and now helicopters\u2019.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Waterford City and County Council initially concluded that helicopter flights may have \u2018a significant disturbance effect\u2019 on wildlife living in a protected area.<\/p>\n
But a report by wildlife consultants submitted in response by the estate said there was \u2018no likelihood of significant disturbance\u2019 due to the modern design of helicopter involved and the height and routing of the flight path.<\/p>\n
The application, submitted in the name of Ballynatray\u2019s estate manager, was subsequently approved, subject to a list of conditions – only for Mr Orr to lodge an appeal.<\/p>\n
He wrote: \u2018This small area of land contains a very wide variety of species of both flora and fauna and is in serious need of protection.<\/p>\n
\u2018It seems to be that for the sake of one person\u2019s travelling convenience a large number of both human and non-human inhabitants of this area are going to be disturbed.\u2019<\/p>\n
Now\u00a0An Coimisi\u00fan Plean\u00e1la – which deals with planning appeals – has upheld the council’s decision to grant consent.<\/p>\n
It concluded that due to the ‘limited scale and nature of the works’ and the ‘modest frequency’ of flights, as well as the choice of specified flight paths, the helipad ‘would not… pose a significant risk to the protection of the local ecology’.<\/p>\n
In addition it would not ‘unduly detract from the landscape, character or setting of Ballynatray’ or ‘significantly injure the residential amenities of the properties in the vicinity’.<\/p>\n
The commission also concluded there was ‘no reasonable scientific doubt’ to think the development would impact the site\u2019s conservation objectives.<\/p>\n
In its ruling it said no more than 50 flights could take place annually, with no commercial use of the helipad.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The commission also ordered that no helicopter fuel storage is permitted, while a 10-metre windsock mast should be lowered when not in use.<\/p>\n
It said the conditions were \u2018in the interest of clarity and residential amenity and to prevent pollution and disturbance in the local environment.\u2019<\/p>\n
Sir James\u2019s elder son Jake himself faced widespread local opposition to his plan to install a landing pad in the grounds of his 18th Century Somerset home in 2018.<\/p>\n