Longford County Council grants permission for battery energy storage plant at Lanesborough (Lanesboro), Co. Longford

In context

It is one of 2 battery storage applications Longford County Council has received in the past twelve months, against 59 nationally. Of the 72 such applications decided by councils in the past three years, 78% were granted.

What happens next

The applicant, or anyone who made a submission on the application, can appeal the decision to An Coimisiún Pleanála within four weeks of 7 July 2025. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues.

The development description, as lodged

Verbatim from the Longford County Council register. This is the source for every figure in the story above.

will consist of a battery energy storage system (BESS) located within a fenced compound and will (subject to detailed design, commercial and technical considerations) comprise of: 1) Up to 896 no. battery energy storage enclosures, organised in approx. 36 no. bays. Each battery enclosure will incorporate battery packs as well as power electronics, battery management systems, cooling units and fire suppression systems. The battery bays will be c. 5m wide x 3m high and vary in length from 33.7m to 36.3m; 2) 10 no. Medium Voltage (MV) Skids (c. 6m x 10.2m x 2.5m); 3) Control Building (c. 378.9 sq.m); 4) Ancillary plant and equipment comprising of: a. an emergency diesel generator plinth (c. 28.7 sq.m); b. two spare parts containers (c. 29.7 sq.m); c. a fire fighting water tank and pump house (c. 15 sq.m); d. an underground oil separator and repurposing of existing settlement basin to provide storm water attenuation; an underground emergency retention basin; e. transformer compound including a bunded main step-up transformer (c. 130 sq.m) and firewalls, and High Voltage (HV) switchgear, linking with an underground cable; and f. 4 no. auxiliary transformers (c. 4m x 4m x 3m); 5) Operation and Maintenance site office including welfare facilities (c. 25.5 sq.m); 6) All services connections including electrical, water and wastewater and connections to existing surface water drains; 7) 1 no. lightning monopole (c. 18m high); 8) Modifications to the permitted HV customer compound currently under construction (under Planning Application Reg. Ref. No. 22/275) to include the upgrade of the 110kV:33kV transformer with associated equipment including Circuit Breaker (CB), modifications to the transformer bund and control building; and 9) All other ancillary site clearance and development works including provision of biodiversity enhancement area; areas of hardstanding; internal access roads; lighting and CCTV; laydown area; fencing and access gates (c. 4m in height); car parking; and connections to site services networks. Note For Information Purposes: This application relates to elements previously consented by Longford County Council under Planning Application Reg. Ref. No. 22/75. It is expected that the already consented demolition of existing structures on site will occur in advance of the commencement of the construction of this proposed development. The demolition works, therefore, do not form part of this application. Planning Permission is being sought fo