21464

CONSTRUCTION OF ONE 4.2MW WIND TURBINE WITH AN OVERALL TIP HEIGHT OF UP TO 150M; THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE WIND TURBINE FOUNDATION, HARDSTANDING AND ASSEMBLY AREA; PROVISION OF A SITE ENTRANCE AND AN ACCESS TRACK WITHIN THE SITE; CONSTRUCTION OF AN ON-SITE 20KV SUBSTATION AND UNDERGROUND ELECTRICAL CABLE; AND, ALL ASSOCIATED SITE DEVELOPMENT AND ANCILLARY WORKS

Refused

Core Refusal Reason

The proposal materially contravenes the County Development Plan as it is located outside the designated Wind Energy Strategy Area and proposes a new access onto a national secondary road (N52) that would compromise road safety and efficiency.

Decision Maker's Conclusion

  • The development is located outside the identified Wind Energy Strategy Area and does not meet the specific criteria for single turbines in such locations, thereby materially contravening Objective EO-01 of the County Development Plan.
  • The creation of a new access onto the N52 national secondary road contravenes Policies STAP-17 and STAP-18, as it would negatively impact the safety, capacity, and efficiency of the national road network.
  • The proposal is at variance with national policy regarding control of development and access on national roads as outlined in the Spatial Planning and National Roads Guidelines for Planning Authorities (2012).

Cited Policies (CDP)

Objective EO-01Policy EP-05Policy STAP-17Policy STAP-18Section 5.4 of the Wind Energy Strategy

Decision Document Summary

Natural Forces Renewable Energy Ltd sought permission for a single 4.2MW wind turbine with a tip height of 150m and associated infrastructure at Clonminch, Tullamore, Co. Offaly. The site is located approximately 3km south of Tullamore town centre on agricultural land near the N52. Offaly County Council refused the application primarily because the site falls outside the designated Wind Energy Strategy Area and the proposal does not qualify for the limited exemptions allowed for single turbines....
SOURCE PDFOpen Original
Note: If code appears below, the council site is blocking the preview. Please open the original file.