20230871

Permission for development consisting of: A 10 year planning permission

Granted

Core Planning Reasoning

The development was recommended for a grant of permission as it comprises a grid support facility that aligns with national and local policies to transition to carbon-neutral energy. It is situated on a brownfield site within an established industrial complex, and the Inspector concluded it would not have significant adverse impacts on the environment, residential amenity, or traffic safety.

Decision Maker's Conclusion

  • The proposed development is situated on an established industrial site and would integrate with existing infrastructure, supporting the national transition to renewable energy sources.
  • The project will not result in significant negative impacts on residential amenity regarding noise, traffic, or dust, and its visual impact is mitigated by its location within a brownfield site screened by existing structures.
  • Appropriate Assessment screening concluded there is no conceivable risk to any European site, and the proposed drainage systems (SuDS) are adequate to manage surface water without environmental degradation.

Cited Policies (CDP)

Wexford County Development Plan 2022-2028Chapter 2 (Climate Action)Chapter 9 (Infrastructure Strategy)Objectives SWM01-SWM08Objectives PT01-PT04Chapter 10 (Environmental Management)Objectives EM01-EM02Objective EM05Objectives WQ01-WQ15Objective COMAH01Objective COMAH02Chapter 11 (Landscape & Green Infrastructure)Volume 2: Development Management (Sections 6.2.6, 7.1, 7.4, 8.2.1, 8.2.2, 8.3, 8.4, 8.5, 8.6)Volume 7: Landscape Character Assessment (Objectives L04, L05)Volume 10: Energy Strategy (Objective ES35, Objective ES37)

Decision Document Summary

The proposal involves the construction of a grid stability service development at the Great Island Power Station in County Wexford. The development includes a Synchronous Condenser (SC) building and eight modular containers designed to stabilize grid voltage and support the integration of renewable energy. The site is a 3.162-hectare brownfield area within a Lower Tier Seveso site, currently used for storage and construction portacabins. While a third-party appellant raised concerns regarding th...
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