An Bord Pleanála
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT ACTS 2000 TO 2013
Clare County
Planning Register Reference Number: P12/74
An Bord Pleanála Reference Number: PL 03.241624
APPEAL by ESB Wind Development limited care of ESB International of
Stephen Court, 18-21 Saint Stephen’s Green, Dublin against the decision
made on the 22nd day of January, 2013 by Clare County Council to refuse
permission.
PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT: 10-Year planning permission for a Wind Farm
Project at Moneypoint Generating Station, Carrowdotia North and Carrodotia
South, Kilimer, Kilrush, County Clare. The development will consist of five
wind turbines each having a rated electrical output of approximately 3,000
kilowatts, modification of the existing high-voltage Electrical Transformer
Station to house additional electrical equipment and an additional singlestorey control building, two anemometer masts and all associated site works,
above and below ground. Each wind turbine will have an overall maximum
dimension of 152 metres, comprising a tower 95-100 metres high, with a
diameter of about four metres at the base, to which three blades of 52-55
metres length will be attached. An environmental Impact Statement will be
submitted to the planning authority with the application, as amended by the
revised public notice received by the planning authority on the 20th day of
November, 2012.
DECISION
GRANT permission for the above proposed development in accordance
with the said plans and particulars based on the reasons and
considerations under and subject to the conditions set out below.
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MATTERS CONSIDERED
In making its decision, the Board had regard to those matters to which, by
virtue of the Planning and Development Acts and Regulations made
thereunder, it was required to have regard. Such matters included any
submissions and observations received by it in accordance with statutory
provisions.
REASONS AND CONSIDERATIONS
Having regard to:
(a)
the national targets for renewable energy contribution of 40% gross
electricity consumption by 2020,
(b)
the “Wind Energy Development Guidelines - Guidelines for Planning
Authorities”, issued by the Department of the Environment, Heritage
and Local Government in June, 2006,
(c)
the policies of the planning authority as set out in the Clare County
Development Plan 2011-2017,
(d)
the established industrial nature of the site and presence of tall
structures,
(e)
the proximity and availability of a grid connection to serve the proposed
development,
(f)
the planning history of the site,
(g)
the distance to dwellings or other sensitive receptors from the proposed
development,
(h)
the good transport access,
(i)
the submissions made in connection with the planning application and
the appeal, and
(j)
the report of the inspector,
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it is considered that, subject to compliance with the conditions set out below,
the proposed development would not have a significant effect on the
landscape or the visual or residential amenities of the area and would not
adversely affect the natural heritage of the area. The proposed development
would, therefore, be in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable
development of the area.
The Board considered the Environmental Impact Statement submitted with the
planning application (including mitigation measures therein), the further
information submitted by the applicant in the course of the planning
application, the submission of the applicants at appeal stage and the
Inspector’s assessment of environmental impacts. The Board completed an
Environmental Impact Assessment and concluded that the proposed
development would not have a significant effect on the environment.
The Board considered the Natura Impact Statement as submitted with the
appeal and carried out an Appropriate Assessment of the proposed
development having particular regard to the potential for impacts on the
adjoining Natura 2000 sites viz. the Lower Shannon River Special Area of
Conservation Site Code 002165 and the River Shannon and River Fergus
Estuaries Special Protection Area Site Code 004077. The Board completed
an Appropriate Assessment and having regard to the nature and scale of the
proposed development, the nature of the receiving environment and the
mitigation measures set out in the course of the planning application and
appeal, the Board is satisfied that the proposed development, on its own or in
combination with other plans or projects, would not adversely affect the
integrity of a European site in view of the site’s conservation objectives.
As the site is subject to an IPPC licence the inclusion of a noise monitoring
condition was considered inappropriate.
In relation to condition number 2 of the Inspector’s report (omission of T1) and
after studying the Environmental Impact Statement, additional information,
technical reports including that of the Senior Executive Chemist together with
submissions received from the applicant, the Board did not consider that there
was a specific environmental risk arising from piling of ash as indicated for
Turbine 1 given that this is inert and is located outside the engineered landfill
area. Consequently, the risk of environmental pollution to the Special Area of
Conservation would be negligible.
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As regards condition number 19 (special financial contribution), the Board did
not consider that public road revisions as proposed by the Inspector were
necessary in terms of traffic safety.
CONDITIONS
1.
The development shall be carried out and completed in accordance
with the plans and particulars lodged with the application, as amended
by the further plans and particulars submitted on the 20th day of
November, 2012, and by the further particulars received by An Bord
Pleanála on the 15th day of February, 2013, except as may otherwise
be required in order to comply with the following conditions. Where
such conditions require details to be agreed with the planning authority,
the developer shall agree such details in writing with the planning
authority prior to commencement of development and the development
shall be carried out and completed in accordance with the agreed
particulars.
Reason: In the interest of clarity.
2.
This permission shall not be construed as any form of consent or
agreement to a connection to the national grid or to the routing or
nature of any such connection.
Reason: In the interest of clarity.
3.
The period during which the development hereby permitted may be
carried out shall be 10 years from the date of this order.
Reason: In the interest of clarity.
4.
This permission shall be for a period of 25 years from the date of
commissioning of the wind farm.
Reason: To enable the planning authority to review its operation in the
light of the circumstances then prevailing.
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5.
The developer shall ensure that all construction methods and
environmental mitigation measures set out in the Environmental Impact
Statement and Natura Impact Statement as submitted to An Bord
Pleanála on the 15th day of February, 2013 and associated
documentation are implemented in full, save as may be required by
conditions set out below.
Reason: In the interest of protection of the environment.
6.
(a)
The wind turbines including masts and blades, together with the
monitoring mast shall be of a colour to be agreed with the
planning authority.
(b)
Cables within the site shall be laid underground.
(c)
The wind turbines shall be geared to ensure that the blades
rotate in the same direction.
(d)
No advertising material shall be placed on or otherwise be
affixed to any structure on the site without a prior grant of
planning permission.
Reason: In the interest of visual amenity.
7.
(a)
Cumulative shadow flicker arising from the proposed
development, shall not exceed 30 minutes in any day or 30
hours in any year at any dwelling.
(b)
The proposed turbines shall be fitted with appropriate equipment
and software to control shadow flicker at dwellings.
(c)
Prior to commencement of construction, a wind farm shadow
flicker monitoring programme shall be prepared by a consultant
with experience of similar monitoring work, in accordance with
details to be submitted to the planning authority for written
agreement. Details of monitoring programme shall include the
proposed monitoring equipment and methodology to be used,
and the reporting schedule to the planning authority.
Reason: In the interest of residential amenity.
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8.
In the event that the proposed development causes interference with
telecommunications signals, effective measures shall be introduced to
minimise interference with telecommunications signals in the area.
Details of these measures, which shall be at the developer’s expense,
shall be submitted to, and agreed in writing with, the planning authority
prior to commissioning of the turbines and following consultation with
the relevant authorities.
Reason: In the interest of protecting telecommunications signals and of
residential amenity.
9.
Details of aeronautical requirements shall be submitted to, and agreed
in writing with, the planning authority prior to commencement of
development. Prior to commissioning of the turbines, the developer
shall inform the planning authority and the Irish Aviation Authority of the
as-constructed tip heights and co-ordinates of the turbines and wind
monitoring mast.
Reason: In the interest of air traffic safety.
10.
Prior to commencement of development, a transport management plan
for the construction stage shall be submitted to, and agreed in writing
with, the planning authority. The traffic management plan shall
incorporate details of the road network to be used by construction
traffic, including over-sized loads, and detailed arrangements for the
protection of bridges, culverts or other structures to be traversed, as
may be required.
Reason: In the interest of traffic safety.
11.
(a)
Prior to commencement of development, a detailed
environmental, health and safety management plan for the
construction stage shall be submitted, generally in accordance
with the Environmental Impact Statement and the submissions
made in accordance with the planning application and with the
appeal, for the written agreement of the planning authority.
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(b)
The environmental, health and safety management plan shall
incorporate the following:
(i)
a detailed construction programme,
(ii)
a detailed method statement for construction,
(iii)
a programme for the on-going monitoring of water quality
during the construction period, and
(iv)
an emergency response plan.
Reason: In the interest of public health and safety, protection of the
environment and sustainable waste management.
12.
On full or partial decommissioning of the wind farm, or if the wind farm
ceases operation for a period of more than one year, the wind
monitoring mast, the turbines concerned and all decommissioned
structures shall be removed, and foundations covered with soil to
facilitate re-vegetation, all to be completed to the written satisfaction of
the planning authority within three months of decommissioning or
cessation of operation.
Reason: To ensure satisfactory reinstatement of the site upon full or
partial cessation of the project.
13.
Prior to commencement of development, the developer shall lodge with
the planning authority a cash deposit, a bond of an insurance company,
or such other security as may be acceptable to the planning authority,
to secure the reinstatement of public roads that may be damaged by
the transport of materials to the site, coupled with an agreement
empowering the planning authority to apply such security or part
thereof to the satisfactory reinstatement of the public road. The form
and amount of the security shall be as agreed between the planning
authority and the developer or, in default of agreement, shall be
referred to An Bord Pleanála for determination.
Reason: In the interest of traffic safety and the proper planning and
sustainable development of the area.
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14.
The developer shall pay to the planning authority a financial
contribution in respect of public infrastructure and facilities benefiting
development in the area of the planning authority that is provided or
intended to be provided by or on behalf of the authority in accordance
with the terms of the Development Contribution Scheme made under
section 48 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended.
The contribution shall be paid prior to the commencement of
development or in such phased payments as the planning authority
may facilitate and shall be subject to any applicable indexation
provisions of the Scheme at the time of payment. Details of the
application of the terms of the Scheme shall be agreed between the
planning authority and the developer or, in default of such agreement,
the matter shall be referred to the Board to determine the proper
application of the terms of the Scheme.
Reason: It is a requirement of the Planning and Development Act 2000
that a condition requiring a contribution in accordance with the
Development Contribution Scheme made under section 48 of the Act
be applied to the permission.
Member of An Bord Pleanála
duly authorised to authenticate
the seal of the Board.
Dated this
day of
2013.
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