211371

for a 10 year planning permission to develop a synchronous condenser grid support facility, which will connect to the adjoining ESB Dunnstown Electricity Substation in the townland of Dunnstown, Brannockstown, Naas, Co. Kildare. The proposed development will have a projected life span of 50 years. At the end of life the proposed development can either be decommissioned or refurbished to extend its life. The development is to be located within a site compound c. 1 ha. It will regulate reactive power on the electricity network and will consist of the following elements: a building (c. 540 sqm. c. 10 m High) to house equipment including a synchronous condenser with flywheel, lube oil skid, air compressor and pumps. Equipment to be located outside of the footprint of the building but within a fenced compound will include cooling equipment (c. 160 sqm., c. 3m High); 6 No. modular containers to house electrical and control equipment (total area of c. 195 sqm., c. 5m High); a step-up transformer, an auxiliary transformer, an external circuit breaker, electrical balance of plant, 1 No. firefighting water tank, above ground oil separator and collection pit, c. 100m of underground cabling ducts and cable to the adjoining ESB substation, balustrade boundary fencing, security entrance gate and CCTV, all other ancillary and miscellaneous site works to include; site clearance; site access, internal roads development of areas of hard standing and lay-down area. The proposed development will connect by underground cable to the Electricity Supply Board (ESB) 220kV substation adjoining the western boundary of the proposed development site. This underground cabling will not form a part of the transmission networks as defined in section 2(1) of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999. Revised by Significant Further Information which consists of revised application site boundary to incorporate revised access arrangements to site from public road

Refused

Core Refusal Reason

The application failed to provide sufficient technical information to demonstrate that the development would not adversely impact archaeological heritage, the ecologically sensitive Harristown Commons wetland, or traffic safety on the R412 regional road.

Decision Maker's Conclusion

  • The applicant failed to conduct necessary pre-development archaeological test excavations, leaving the potential impact on sub-surface heritage remains unknown and unmitigated.
  • Insufficient evidence was provided to assess the potential ecological impacts on the Harristown Commons, a wetland identified as being of County Conservation Importance.
  • The proposed site access and layout were deemed inadequate due to unresolved concerns regarding sight lines on the R412 and the lack of a swept path analysis for emergency and heavy goods vehicles.

Cited Policies (CDP)

ER2ER4TN 1TN 2TN 3TN 4TN 6TN 11Objective TNO 1Chapter 8Chapter 17

Decision Document Summary

The proposal involves the construction of a synchronous condenser grid support facility on a 1.5ha site in the rural townland of Dunnstown, Naas, designed to provide stability to the national electricity grid. While the development is supported in principle by national energy policies and the County Development Plan, the planning authority identified significant deficiencies in the application. The proposal was refused (via a recommendation for Further Information that highlighted critical failu...
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