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The image says 'Public Interest Announcement' in white font on a teal green background. There is an animated, brick red speech bubble beside the text, with a light bulb icon moving around in the centre of the speech bubble.

Supporting the Stop Whitehead Oil Terminal campaign

Published: July 24, 2024

In April, Mid & East Antrim Borough Council’s decision to grant planning permission for the Cloghan Point oil terminal expansion left the Whitehead community in shock.


Not only is it a potential risk to the environment, the oil terminal’s proposed redevelopment also raises major concerns about decision-making in Northern Ireland.  

The Stop Whitehead Oil Terminal (SWOT) group is taking legal action, demanding answers to vital public interest questions.  

Questions like: how can this project move forward when NI’s Climate Change Act contains a clear net zero commitment?  And why are local communities forced to take legal action, while ministerial ‘call in’ powers to scrutinise major decisions are left unused?  

Today, SWOT lodged an application with the High Court, requesting permission to judicially review the Council’s decision to approve the expansion plans.

On 27 June 2024, SWOT lodged an application for judicial review, challenging the Department for Infrastructure’s failure to ‘call in’ the decision. 


The PILS Project are providing SWOT with the full range of our public interest litigation support services:

  • direct representation from our own solicitor
  • pro bono representation from counsel through our Pro Bono Register
  • and financial support to lodge the judicial review applications in court. 

SWOT’s sustained advocacy on this issue has already received widespread media attention, from multiple BBC News NI correspondents, the Belfast Telegraph and Belfast Live. 

The next step in the process is for the High Court to consider if the application is permitted (also known as being granted leave) to proceed to a full judicial review hearing.  

The High Court has confirmed it will review SWOT’s judicial review application against the Department for Infrastructure in September 2024. 

Stay tuned for updates. 

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