Title of Report: Officer Presenting: Principal Planning Officer Item 14 - Consultation received from Fermanagh & District Council Author: Principal Planning Officer Planning in relation to Planning Application LA10/2016/1131/F – Erection of overhead line for Slieveglass wind farm

1 Purpose of Report/Recommendations 1.1 The purpose of this report is to advise members that a consultation has been received from the Fermanagh & Omagh District Council (FODC) Planning Department in relation to an application for the erection of an overhead line for Slieveglass wind farm. The consultation is seeking comments from Derry City and District Council.

2 Background 2.1 On the 19 May 2017, Derry City and Strabane District Council (DCSDC) received a consultation from FODC for planning application LA10/2016/1131/F for the erection of overhead line for Slieveglass windfarm located 151 m south west of 190 Road, to 124m south of 28 Meencaragh Road, Meencaragh, crossing the townlands of Dooish, Coolavanagh, Drummenagh, Drumscra, Lackagh, Carrickaness, Billary, Cavansallagh, Killoan, Tullyard, Kilmore, Irvine, Meencaragh traveling in a North West direction. The applicant is Electricity. The application was received by FODC on the 4 November 2016. 2.2 Slieveglass Windfarm is located in Co. Tyrone on the border with FODC and DCSDC. 3 No. turbines where approved on appeal in June 2013. There are a number of wind farms in the wider locality. 2.3 Whilst the majority of the proposed electricity line for which this consultation relates is located in the FODC areas, part of the line as indicated on the submitted drawings is located in DCSDC area. Members are advised the DCSDC Planning are currently processing 2 planning applications which are closely related to the proposed development in Fermanagh & Omagh. Planning Application LA11/2016/1010/F contains 2 stretches of electricity line which cross into this District but are shown in the drawings submitted with the application in Fermanagh & Omagh as part of a much larger proposal. DCSDC is also processing planning application LA11/2017/0385/F for an electricity line for NI Electricity located to the west.

3 Key Issues/Next Steps 3.1 LA10/2016/1131/F was received by FODC on 4 November 2016. Consultation responses have been received from Transport NI, NIEA and SES during the processing of the application. The proposed overhead line is of a substantial length and will be supported by 113 poles. The proposal extends over a large expanse of open countryside. On viewing the details of the application on the planning portal, there are 4 site location plans showing the location of the proposed line and also details of poles to be constructed. These drawings are shown in the attached Appendix 29. 3.2 With regards to the planning applications currently being processed by DCSDC, planning application LA11/2016/1010/F is for two stretches of 3 wire 33 kv electricity line on wooden pole structures @ 520 m and 190 m to link up with the proposed electricity line in the FODC area. This application is located at 989 m east of Tullyard Road, Drumquin to 507 m south east of Bullock Park Road to 134 m south of 28 Meencaragh Road travelling in a north-west direction. This application was received in December 2016. LA11/2017/0385/F for the erection of 741 metres of 11Kv 2X50mm AAAC wire electricity on wooden poles to provide an auxiliary supply for Slieveglass windfarm located 208 metres North West of 16 Bolaght Road, Castlederg, to 333 metres south west of Bullock Park Road, Castlederg. Crossing through the Townlands of Ahnakinmart and Bullock Park, Co. Tyrone. This application was received in April 2017. This Council has consulted with Fermanagh & Omagh District Council in relation to both applications and are awaiting a response. 3.3 FODC Planning Department will assess the application under relevant Planning Policy and give due regard to consultation responses and any representations received. There does not appear to be a visual assessment on the landscape submitted by the applicant for the proposed development and this would be useful in assessing any detrimental impacts of the proposal in this area and especially from views from the DCSDC area. DCSDC Planning officials have not carried out a site visit on receipt of the consultation for the proposed electricity line. 3.4 Electricity lines can be visually obtrusive particularly where wires or poles figure above the skyline or dominate a landscape. Particular care should be taken in areas of landscape sensitivity and lines should avoid sites and areas of nature conservation or archaeological interest. Any visual intrusion should be minimised. A Visual Assessment from key viewpoints within the Council area would be useful in properly assessing any impacts when viewed from DCSDC area.

4 Financial, Equality, Legal and Other Implications

4.1 There are considered to be no financial, equality, HR or other implications to this paper.

5 Recommendations 5.1 That members agree to the issuing of a consultation advising Fermanagh & Omagh District Council that the Derry City and Strabane District Council consider that a full visual assessment is undertaken in relation to the proposed overhead electricity line especially when viewed from within the DCSDC area. Given the trans-boundary nature of the application and the fact that DCSDC are processing 2 further applications in this area, it is proposed that a request to meet with Planning officers from Fermanagh & Omagh would be useful.

Background papers

Appendix 29 Location plans and elevation drawings for Planning application LA10/2016/1131/F