Planning permission sought for controversial local windfarm
The developers of a controversial windfarm in West Offaly are seeking planning permission for the project.
Lemanaghan Wind Farm Designated Activity Company has this week signalled its intention to seek planning permission from An Coimisiún Pleanála for a project which will see the construction of 15 wind turbines with a total tip height of 220 metres.
It comes less than a month after the planning board deemed the project to be strategic infrastucture development, thus allowing the application to bypass the local planning authority.
The renewable energy development is proposed for the West Offaly townslands of Cooldorragh, Kilnagarnagh, Cappanalosset, Tumbeagh, Killaghintober, Castlearmstrong, Leabeg, Cornafurrish and Corrabeg, Lemanaghan, Kilnagoolny, Straduff, Lisdermot, Derrica More, Rosfaraghan, Rashinagh, Cor More and Cor Beg, Corbane and Ballindown.
The proposed development will consist of 15 wind turbines with a total tip height of 220 metres, a rotor motor diameter of 150 metres and a hub height of 145 metres.
Permission is to be sought for turbine foundations and underground electrical and communications cabling connecting the turbines to a new 220kV electrical substation.
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which is to be located in the townsland of Cooldorragh.
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A permanent telecommunications tower with a height of 36 metres is also being sought as part of the planning application as well as a meteorological mast with a height of 145 metres.
Also forming part of the plans is a permanent upgrade of c.1.8km of existing tracks and the provision of c.3.9km of new permanent tracks for the purposes of amenity, seating areas and amenity signage.
A temporary access track from the N52 national road to the N62 national road at Kennedy's Cross in the townsland of Ballindown is to be provided to facilitate the delivery of turbine components and “other abnormal loads” according to the planning notice, which also states the developers intention to seek permission for three permanent amenity car parks, each of which will include 15 private vehicle parking spaces, three accessible parking spaces, bus parking and bike rack facilities. It is also proposed to remove c.1.02ha of “immature woodland” and c.0.64 hectares of scrub to facilitate the development.
A ten year planning permission and a 35-year operational life of the wind farm from the date of commissioning is also being sought, and the planning notice states that an Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) and a Natura Impact Statement (NIS) have been prepared as part of the application.
The planning application can be inspected at the offices of An Coimisiún Pleanála in Dublin or at the offices of Offaly County Council for a period of seven weeks from April 7 next, and submissions or observations can be made, in writing, during the same time period. Submissions can also be made online at www.pleanala.ie and the planning notice states that all submissions/observations must be received by 5.30pm on May 26 next.
The planning application can be viewed or downloaded from the following website: www.lemanaghanwindfarmplanning.ie
Lemanaghan Wind Farm Designated Activity Company (DAC) is a 50:50 joint venture between Bord na Móna and SSE Renewables which is headquartered in Newbridge, Co Kildare and was established to develop wind energy projects in the Midlands
There has been significant opposition to the proposal in recent years, led by the Lemanaghan Bog Heritage and Conservation Group, which staged a number of protests outside public information clinics on the project over the past year.
Previously, there were over 2,000 submissions made to Offaly County Council calling for the removal of the zoning of Lemanaghan Bog as an area open to consideration for wind energy during the preparation of the latest Offaly County Development Plan.