2113: Permission to develop a wind farm and associated works. The proposed development will consist of: - Construction of up to 7 no. wind turbines with a maximum overall blade tip height of up to 178m; - Construction of turbine foundations and crane pad hardstanding areas; - Construction of new site tracks and associated drainage infrastructure; - Upgrading of existing tracts and associated drainage infrastructure where necessary including upgrade of entrance onto L2026; - All associated drainage and sediment control including the installation of new watercourse or drain crossings and the re-use or upgrading of existing internal watercourse and drain crossings; - Construction of 1 no. permanent onsite 38kV electrical substation to ESBN specifications including: Control building with welfare facilities; - Electrical infrastructure; - Parking; - Wastewater holding tank; - rainwater harvesting; - Security fencing; - All associated infrastructure, services and site works; - 1 no. temporary construction site compound and associated ancillary infrastructure including parking; - 1 no. on site borrow pit (the borrow pit shall be accessed via wind farm access tracks); - Tree felling to facilitate construction and operation of the proposed development; - Installation of medium voltage (20/33kV) and communication underground cabling between the proposed turbines and the proposed on-site substation and associated ancillary works; - Erection of 1 no. permanent meteorological mast to a maximum height of 100m above ground level; - Upgrade of existing forest tracks and paths that shall be re-purposed as recreational amenity trails for community use including signage; - All associated site development works; - A 10 year planning permission and 35 year operational life from the date of commissioning of the entire wind farm. An Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) and a Natura Impact Statement (NIS) have been prepared in respect of the proposed development and will be submitted with the application.
Rossacurra Cranemore Kilbrannish North Bealalaw Raheenliegh Aclare Co. Carlow,
DecisionRefused
Decided18 March 2021
Application typePERMISSION
Source documents4
Site
What is on file
3refusal reasons0conditions8nearby records
Decision details
Core application dates and identifiers from the public planning record.Planning analysis
Refusal reasons and planning conditions extracted from the public decision file.Refusal reasons
Visual Amenity
Scale and location of 7 turbines (178m height) cause very significant landscape visual impacts on the Blackstairs and Mount Leinster Uplands Landscape Character Area, affecting designated scenic routes and protected views.
County Carlow Landscape Character Assessment and Schedule of Protected Views; Heritage Policy 1, Carlow County Development Plan 2015-2021Protect designated Views, Prospects and Scenic Routes in the county as appropriate
Ecology
Application fails to demonstrate no adverse impact on Bat populations, Merlin, and migratory birds, and risks loss of Annex 1 European Dry Heaths habitat near multiple SACs.
Heritage Objective 5 and Heritage Policy 2, Carlow County Development Plan 2015-2021ensure that development does not have a significant adverse impact, incapable of satisfactory mitigation, on plant, animal or bird species protected by law
Traffic Sightlines
EIAR does not satisfactorily demonstrate the restricted local road network can accommodate HGV haulage traffic during construction, creating a public safety hazard.
Carlow County Development Plan 2015-2021endanger public safety by reason of a traffic hazard
Conditions
No conditions
No conditions are on record for this application yet.
Source documents
Original council portal records and source PDFs where available.- Application fileApplication file on www.eplanning.ieSource portal
- Notification Of DecisionSource: carlowcoco.eplanning.ie / 2355f38e-f6f8-4edd-b239-1bc2642785d5.pdf / Document 111833Source PDF
- Chief Executives OrderSource: carlowcoco.eplanning.ie / 5187.pdf / Document 79572Source PDF
- Planners ReportSource: carlowcoco.eplanning.ie / 5185.pdf / Document 79570Source PDF
Nearby precedent
Similar nearby applications linked to this planning decision.- 20354For the installation of a new packaged wastewater treatment system and sand polishing filter, a bored well, and all associated site works / 2.3 km away / 04 October 2021Refused
- 22268Permission for the installation of a new packaged wastewater treatment system and sand polishing filter, a bored well, connection to services and all associated site works. This application will also include an Natura Impact Statement (NIS) / 2.3 km away / 11 September 2023Refused
- 2560327The construction of a fully serviced single storey residential dwelling, a detached domestic garage, alterations to an existing entrance and all other associated site works / 4.3 km away / 18 March 2026Refused
- 20290Erection of an agricultural shed for horses together with all ancillary site works / 4.4 km away / 19 January 2021Refused
- 2560417Unauthorised site development works to include the removal of trees and vegetation & the construction of a hard standing area. I also wish to apply for Permission for the construction of a stable block consisting of 4 no. stables, the construction of a dungstead and all associated site works / 5.2 km away / 16 February 2026Refused
- 22376The demolition of existing sheds and the construction of 2 no. 2-storey 3-bedroom houses and 1 no. 2-storey 2-bedroom house in a 3 unit terrace, a new vehicle entrance, on-site parking, connections to mains services, hard and soft landscaping, boundary treatments and all associated site works to facilitate the development / 5.3 km away / 20 December 2022Refused
- 2460346A single storey, three bedroom bungalow with a separate garage and a waste water treatment, plant bored well, new site entrance & all associated site works / 5.4 km away / 13 December 2024Refused
- 17344Full planning permission for a fully serviced two storey dwelling house, garage, new site entrance, new bored well, new wastewater treatment system, percolation area and all associated site works. / 5.8 km away / 07 June 2018Refused