Offaly County Council grants permission for 7-turbine wind farm at Townparks (Birr) Dovegrove, Woodfield or Tullynisk, Co. Offaly

In context

It is one of 3 wind energy applications Offaly County Council has received in the past twelve months, against 63 nationally. Of the 84 such applications decided by councils in the past three years, 74% 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 2 May 2024. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues.

The development description, as lodged

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

A ten year Planning Permission. The development will consist of: (i) The provision of underground electrical cabling (38kV) from the townland of Townparks to the existing Dallow 110kV substation in the townland of Clondallow to facilitate the connection of the proposed Carrig Renewables Wind Farm development to the national grid; (ii) Provision of 4 no. joint bays, communication chambers and earth sheath links along the proposed underground electrical cabling route; (iii) Reinstatement of the road or track surface above the proposed cabling trench along existing roads and tracks; and, (iv) All associated site development works, ancillary works and apparatus considered necessary to facilitate the proposed development. The development subject of this application will facilitate the connection of the proposed 7 no. wind turbine Carrig Renewables Wind Farm to the national electricity grid. A concurrent application for the Carrig Renewables Wind Farm development has been lodged to Tipperary County Council. The proposed development includes underground cabling works located within the public road corridor within the curtilage of a Protected Structure (Tipperary RPS Ref. TRPS519 Croghan Bridge). An Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) and Natura Impact Statement (NIS) has been prepared in respect of the planning application and will be submitted to the planning authority with the application