Strategic Infrastructure Developments lodged with An Bord Pleanála (ABP) in accordance with the Planning and Development Act (2000) as amended.

The following applications have been made to An Bord Pleanála regarding development in Co. Laois:

Coolglass Windfarm Limited

An Bord Pleanála Reference: ABP-317809-23

Date Application Lodged: 14th day of August 2023

Planning Application to An Bord Pleanála on behalf of Coolglass Windfarm Limited in respect of a Proposed Coolglass Windfarm in the Townlands of Fossy Upper, Aghoney, Gorreelagh, Knocklead, Scotland, Brennanshill, Monamantry, Coolglass, Crissard and Kylenabehy, Co. Laois. (Ref. No. ABP- PC11.313375)

In accordance with Section 37E of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, we, Coolglass Wind Farm Limited, give notice of our intention to make an application to An Bord Pleanála for a ten – year permission, for development comprising the construction of a wind farm and related works in the townlands of Fossy Upper, Aghoney, Gorreelagh, Knocklead, Scotland, Brennanshill, Monamantry, Coolglass, Crissard, Kylenabehy, Monamanry, Brennanshill, Knocklead, Aghoney, Timahoe, Carrigeen, Ballygormill South, Money Upper, Hophall, Rathleague, Ballymooney, Rathbrennan, County Laois. The site is 74.5 ha in size. The development will consist of:

Construction of 13 No. wind turbines within two clusters with an overall ground to blade tip height of 180m. The wind turbines will have a rotor diameter ranging from 155m to 162m inclusive and a hub height ranging from 99 to 102.5m inclusive.
Construction of permanent turbine hardstands and turbine foundations.
Construction of 1 no. permanent 110 kV electrical substation including 2 no. control buildings with welfare facilities, all associated electrical plant and equipment, security fencing and gates, all associated underground cabling, wastewater holding tank, and all ancillary structures and works.
Construction of a 33kV collector cable circuit connecting the wind farm two clusters along the L3851/Knocklead Road
Construction of two temporary construction compounds with associated temporary site offices, parking areas and security fencing.
Development of one on-site borrow pit.
Construction of new permanent internal site access roads, upgrade of existing internal site access roads, including passing bays and all associated drainage infrastructure
Development of an internal site drainage network and sediment control systems.
All associated underground electrical and communications cabling connecting the wind turbines to the wind farm substation.
All associated site development works including berms, landscaping, and soil excavation.
Improvement of a site entrance to an existing access off the L3851/Knocklead local road to include localised widening of the road and creation of a splayed entrance to facilitate the delivery of abnormal loads and turbine component deliveries. Improvements include removal of existing vegetation for visibility splays to facilitate the use of the access for the delivery of construction materials to the site.
A new site entrance slip road from the L3851 / Knocklead local road to facilitate the delivery of abnormal loads and turbine component deliveries.
Works at this location require the removal of existing forestry to facilitate the use of the access for the delivery of construction materials to the site and for use during the operational phase.
Construction related temporary upgrade works on the turbine delivery route to facilitate the delivery of turbine components to include the use of temporary road surfaces at a roundabout at the southern exit of Junction 16 of the M7, the R425/N80 roundabout and the R426 – L3851 junction.
The erection of a permanent meteorological mast 102.5m in height
A 35-year operational life from the date of commissioning of the entire proposed development.

This application is accompanied by an Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) and a Natura Impact Statement (NIS).

The planning application, EIAR and NIS may be inspected free of charge or purchased on payment of a specified fee (which fee shall not exceed the reasonable cost of making such a copy) during public opening hours for a period of seven weeks commencing on 21st August 2023 at the following locations:

The Offices of An Bord Pleanála, 64 Marlborough Street, Dublin 1, D01 V902.
The Offices of Laois County Council, Áras an Chontae, James Fintan Lalor Ave, Kylekiproe, Portlaoise, Co. Laois, R32 EHP9

The application may also be viewed/downloaded on the following website: https://www.coolglasswindfarmsid.ie

Submissions or observations may be made only to An Bord Pleanála (“the Board”) 64 Marlborough Street, Dublin 1 in writing or online on the Board’s website www.pleanala.ie during the above-mentioned period of seven weeks relating to: (i) the implications of the proposed development for proper planning and sustainable development of the area concerned; (ii) the likely effects on the environment of the proposed development, if carried out, and (iii) the likely effects or adverse effects on the integrity of a European site, if carried out.

Any submissions/observations must be accompanied by a fee of €50 (except for certain prescribed bodies) and must be received by the Board not later than

5.30 p.m. on 9th October 2023. Such submissions/observations must also include the following information: (i) the name of the person making the submission or observation, the name of the person acting on his or her behalf, if any, and the address to which any correspondence relating to the application should be sent; (ii) the subject matter of the submission or observation, and (iii) the reasons, considerations and arguments on which the submission or observation is based in full (Article 217 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended, refers).

Any submissions or observations which do not comply with the above requirements cannot be considered by the Board.

The Board may at its absolute discretion hold an oral hearing on the application. (For further details please see ‘A Guide to Public participation in Strategic

Infrastructure Development’ on the Board’s website www.pleanala.ie).

The Board may in respect of an application for permission decide to: (a) (i) grant the permission, or (ii) make such modifications to the proposed development as it specifies in its decision and grant permission in respect of the proposed development as so modified, or (iii) grant permission in respect of part of the proposed development (with or without specified modifications of it of the foregoing kind), and any of the above decisions may be subject to or without conditions, or (b) refuse to grant the permission.

Any enquiries relating to the application process should be directed to the Strategic Infrastructure Development Section of An Bord Pleanála (Tel. 01-8588100). A person may question the validity of any such decision of the Board by way of an application for judicial review, under Order 84 of the Rules of the Superior Courts (S.I. No. 15 of 1986, as amended by S.I. No. 691 of 2011), in accordance with Section 50 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 as amended. Practical information on the review mechanism can be accessed under the heading “Information on cases / Weekly lists” – Judicial Review of planning decisions, on the Board’s website www.pleanala.ie or on the Citizens Information Service website www.citizensinformation.ie.

EirGrid plc, with the consent and approval of the Electricity Supply Board

An Bord Pleanala Reference: 11.VA0015

Date application lodged: 25th day of January, 2013 and on the 16th day of August, 2013

Planning Application to an Bord Pleanála on behalf of EirGrid plc, with the consent and approval of the Electricity Supply
Board in respect of a proposed electricity transmission infrastructure, and associated works in the townlands of:

Orchard Lower, Kyle, Coolnabacky, Money Lower, Loughteeog, Carrigeen (E.D. Timogue), Esker, Ballygormill South, Cremorgan, Baunree, Raheenduff Big, Ballinaclogh Lower, Ballinaclogh Upper, Garryglass, Clarbarracum, Boleybeg, Knockardagur, Aghnacross, Boleybawn, Cloghoge and Ironmills or Kilrush in Co. Laois and the townlands of Loughill, Ballyoskill, Ballynalacken, Ballymartin, Tinnalintan, Sraleagh, Rathduff, Moatpark, Ballyragget, Donaghmore, Connahy, Foulksrath, Shanganny, Swiftsheath, Tullowglass, Gragara, Mohil, Ballyrafton, Bullockhill, Kilmademoge, Dunmorepark, Radestown South, Radestown North, Kyleroe, Brownstown, Kingsland (E.D Kilkenny), Archersrath, Cellarstown West,
Leggetsrath East, Cellarstown Lower, Cellarstown Upper, Higginstown, Templemartin (E.D. Clara), Rathbourn or Ratheenmore and Scart (E.D. Dunbell) in Co. Kilkenny.

The proposed Laois-Kilkenny Reinforcement Project consists of 8 no. interrelated elements as follows:

(i) A new 400/110kV GIS substation comprising the construction of a new 400/110kV Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS) substation at Coolnabacky and Esker townlands, north of Timahoe, Co. Laois. This substation, in a site area of approx. 7.6 hectares, will consist of: 2 no. Gas Insulated (GIS) substation buildings one operated at 400kV (building dimensions 64m x 15.5m x 13m) and the other operated at 110kV (building dimensions approx. 50m x 11.5m x 12.5m) within a 98m x 117m compound secured by a 2.6m high palisade fence; a 400kV gantry and associated line equipment required to divert the 400kV overhead lines into the 400kV GIS station; 2 no. 400/110kV, 500MVA transformers and 2 no. shunt reactors which will be positioned in transformer bunds between the two substation buildings; associated development including 8 no. separate sedimentation/attenuation ponds (average area 110m²); vehicular access to the substation is via a modification to the existing private road including the existing access point; foul holding tank; and all other ancillary site works.

(ii) A new connection to the proposed Coolnabacky substation from the existing Moneypoint – Dunstown 400kV line by way of a 400kV overhead line in 2 no. new single circuit spans (approx. 280m and 295m respectively) connecting to approx. 1.2km of 400kV double circuit line which brings the 400kV circuits to the proposed gantry in Coolnabacky 400/110kV substation. The proposal includes: 2 no. new 400kV single circuit angle masts of heights up to approx. 37.3m and 32.3m; 2 no. new 400kV double circuit angle masts both up to approx. 55.5m in height; and 3 no. new 400kV intermediate masts all up to approx. 57.8m in height. An existing 400kV intermediate mast on the existing 400kV line and approx. 150m of existing 400kV overhead line between the two connection points to the Moneypoint – Dunstown 400kV line will be removed.

(iii) A new connection to the proposed Coolnabacky substation from the existing Athy – Portlaoise 110kV line by replacing 2 no. existing intermediate polesets with 2 no. lattice steel line/cable interface masts both approx. 21m in height (both these structures are contained within the proposed Coolnabacky substation site adjacent to the proposed site compound). Short lengths of underground cable (approx. 100m and 190m in length) will connect the new line/cable interface masts into the 110kV building within the proposed
Coolnabacky compound. Approximately 150m of existing overhead line will be removed between the 2 no. line/cable interface masts.

(iv) A new 110kV / 38kV / MV substation in Moatpark, Ballyragget, Co. Kilkenny in a site area of approx. 1.5 hectares constructed adjacent to the existing 38kV /MV Ballyragget
substation. The proposed 110kV GIS substation (approx. dimensions 50m x 11.5m by 12m high) will be in a compound of 61m x 70m plan area secured by a 2.6m high palisade fence. The compound will also include: a 38kV / MV GIS substation building (approx. dimensions 24.5m x 8m by 7m high); 1 no. 31.5MVA 110/38kV transformer and
1 no. 5MVA 38/20kV transformer positioned in transformer bunds between the substation buildings; a new access road (60m long) from an existing entrance to the substation; 2 no. lightning masts each approx. 14m in height; associated development of a septic tank and percolation area, soakaway pits and all other ancillary site works.

(v) A new 110kV overhead line between the proposed Ballyragget substation and the proposed Coolnabacky substation consisting of approx. 26km of overhead line and 2 no. short lengths of cable at the approach to the proposed Ballyragget and Coolnabacky substations. The overhead line will consist of 143 no. double wood polesets up to a maximum height of approx. 22m and 17 no. lattice steel angle masts up to a maximum height of approx. 25m supporting three electrical conductors and two earthwires. Approx. 160m of underground cable connects the proposed Ballyragget 110kV building to a proposed line/cable interface mast within the Ballyragget substation site and approx. 190m of underground cable connects the proposed Coolnabacky 110kV building to the line/cable interface mast adjacent to the proposed Coolnabacky substation

(vi) An uprate to the existing Ballyragget – Kilkenny 110kV overhead line consisting of the replacement of all the structures along the existing line with similar structures along the same alignment except for the first 670m out of Ballyragget substation and the first 275m out of Kilkenny substation which are required to be realigned as well as uprated. The development comprises approx. 21.9km of overhead line and 2 no. short lengths of cable at Ballyragget and Kilkenny substations. The overhead line will consist of 90 no. double wood polesets up to a maximum height of approx. 22m and 14 no. lattice steel angle masts up to a maximum height of approx. 25m supporting three electrical conductors. Approx. 215m of underground cable connects the proposed Ballyragget 110kV building to a proposed line/cable interface mast and approx. 50m of underground cable connects the line/cable interface mast to the electrical equipment in Kilkenny substation

(vii) A new bay in the existing Kilkenny 110kV substation of dimensions measuring approx. 20m x 6m x 5m high consisting of the installation of outdoor air insulated equipment including, circuit breaker, disconnects and instrument transformers mounted on concrete plinths; the removal of the existing end mast; and all other ancillary site works..

(viii) Modifications to existing Athy – Portlaoise 110kV line comprising the replacement of existing structures along a portion of the existing Athy – Portlaoise 110kV line from the proposed Coolnabacky substation south-eastwards towards Athy for approx. 2.3km and from the proposed Coolnabacky substation northwestward towards Portlaoise for approx. 1.3km. The replacement structures, which will be of a generally similar form and character to those existing, will be fitted with earthwire. 1 no. existing poleset structure will be replaced with a lattice steel angle mast. The proposed replacement overhead line will thereby consist of 17 no. double wood polesets up to a maximum height of approx. 22m and 2
no. lattice steel angle masts up to a maximum height of approx. 25m. The application for approval includes all associated and ancillary site works.

The application for approval includes all associated and ancillary site works.

Significant further information, in the form of an environmental impact statement, was submitted to the Board on the 16th day of August, 2013. Copies of the public notices to this effect were received by the Board on the 13th day of September, 2013.

The application can be viewed online at: http://eirgridlaoiskilkenny.ie/index.html

Amendment to 11.VA0015

Case reference: VM11.VM0012

VM0012: County Laois and County Kilkenny.

Laois County Council

Description: Request to make alterations to previously approved Laois-Kilkenny reinforcement project development (Application reference number 11.VA0015)

Case type: Amendment to decision on Electricity Development

Parties