An Bord Pleanála Ref.: PL25.237728 Development: Construction of 9 no. wind turbines, (revised from 12) switch room, anemometer mast and all associated site works at Gaybrook Demesne, Mahonstown, Gibbonstown, Ballintlevy, Bellfield or Brannockstown and Gallstown, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath. Planning Application Planning Authority: Westmeath County Council Planning Authority Ref.: 10/5009 Applicant: Galetech energy Development (GED Ltd.) Type of Application: Permission Planning Authority Decision: Refuse permission Planning Appeal Type of Appeal: First party against conditions. Third party (2 no.) Appellants: 1. GED Ltd. (1 st ) 2. Paul and Joan Kealy (3 rd ) 3. Midlands Industrial Wind Turbines Action Group (3 rd ) Observers: 1. County Westmeath Tourism Ltd. 2. Colm Arthur 3. Raymond Martin 4. Belvedere House Gardens and Park Inspector: Suzanne Kehely Dates of Site Inspection: 11 th and 24 th January and 10 th February 2011 PL25.237728 An Bord Pleanala Page 1 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 This report relates to both first and third party appeals against the decision of the planning authority to refuse permission for the proposed development. The planning application was accompanied by an EIS. The proposed development area and number of turbines was significantly reduced and layout was modified in revised plans submitted as part of further information. I inspected the site and surrounding area over three days. Weather was overcast during January inspections and relatively clear in February. These photographs are appended to this report. 2.0 SITE LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION 2.1 The site lies approximately 6.5km south of Mullingar and 3.5km east of Lough Ennell a designated SPA, SCA and High amenity Area. It is also 1.5km west of Milltownpass Bog a designated NHA. The area is best described as an inhabited rural area with working farms and extensive ribbon development. There are 251 dwelling within a 1km range of the original site and this was reduced to 91 in the revised development area. 2.2 The site is fragmented and in the original drawings submitted with the application related to five parcels of land with a total footprint of 16 sq.km. The terrain ranges from gently undulating (with contour level ranging from above 100m and peaking at 129 to lower lying flat peaty/ bogland at contour range of 89-90m. at the southern end near the old N6.. The main routes accessing the lands are the R400 which runs north south between Mullingar and Rochfortbridge west of the site and the county road L5004 which is similarly aligned east of the site. The old N6 which runs east to west is just south of the lands and there are a number of east west county roads crossing the subject townlands. The land is for the most part pasture land with extensive ribbon development along the surrounding road network. 2.3 East of Gaybrook: This part of the site is characterised by a mix of dense woodland in an undulating terrain and established residential estates. Woodville House restaurant is nearby. The east west route from Gaybrook Demesne is poorly aligned road. This part of the site was omitted from the development area in further information. 2.4 Gaybrook Demesne : This part of the subject site is located on the south western perimeter of the Demesne at the northern part of the landholding. It fronts onto the east west Simonstown to Bellville county road L5131. The western boundary north of the L5131 is marked by a mature hedgerow and cluster of trees in the corner. Gaybrook Demesne is a partly walled estate but the original residential structures are in derelict condition. There is a new residence off the main avenue and a working farm in some of the old farm buildings further south. The main entrance and original boundary wall has been breached extensively along the eastern and northern demesne boundary arising from extensive ribbon development. The gate lodge is in derelict condition. This part of the Demesne was also omitted from the site development area in further information. PL25.237728 An Bord Pleanala Page 2 2.5 Gibbonstown/Mahonstown : The land is gently undulated and picturesque. The contour ranges from about 100m to 129m OD and peaks just east of the sites of the proposed T4 and T5 in the region of the existing monopole. This is the largest tract of land and spans a number of townlands and farm holdings. It stretches a couple of kilometres between the R400 to the west, the L5131 Simonstown/Bellville road to the north, the L5004 county road to the east and the Gibbonstown/Mahonstown road to the south. The R400 is the main route from Mullingar to Rochfortbridge and is reasonably aligned. The L5131 is a relatively new road in that it does not appear in the older ordnance survey maps prior to 1914. It cuts through original open fields as evident by the remaining surviving established boundaries on both sides of the road. It is reasonably straight but narrow although it has open grass margins but lacks the mature boundary ditches of the more established roads. There are a few house/farms along this road and traffic was very light during all inspections. The road to the east is of poor alignment both vertically and horizontally. There are a number of houses including many newer houses. 2.6 The road to the south is similarly if not of more substandard alignment with severely restricted visibility and width at a number of points. There are many older dwellings/farmsteads as well as some newer residences along this road and off tracks. Near its junction with the R400 there is a cul-de- sac lane which runs north towards the subject site. An old track and overgrown wall continue directly on a north south access form this lane up to the site and old ruins in the vicinity of the proposed T4 site. There is an old concrete shelter in this field just south of the proposed T4 and cottage ruin. Similarly along this lane there is rubble from what would appear to be the old structures in the older o.s. maps. A breached wall runs in approximate east west axis and appears to be the old demesne wall. The junction of this lane with the main road has restricted visibility. There is monopole to the south of this wall and this would appear to be the anemometer is which visible from the surrounding road network particularly to the north and east. The land is mainly occupied by grazing livestock and there is some evidence of tillage. 2.7 A gas pipe line traverses this land. 2.8 To the east of the site of T4 there is and there is cul-de-sac road off the 5004 which would appear to have provided access to now derelict Mahonstown house. There is only a farm yard/cattle sheds at the end of this track. Access to the subject site is via gated from this yard. This lane between the yard and public road has poor vertical alignment and is narrow. It is not within the subject site. 2.9 Windmill : This site borders a dense forest plantation which is accessed via a winding severely potholed track off a county road to the east. This track serves two dwellings and curves acutely before traversing the woodland. It terminates at a derelict ruin from where there are vistas across open fields bordered by dense tree lined boundaries. This track is not part of the subject site. The L5004 is the nearest road to the west. The subject site has a narrow frontage onto this road and extends along the south side of a belt of trees and stream (Milltown River tributary – a salmonid river). On the north side of this stream there is an open filed and open vista. PL25.237728 An Bord Pleanala Page 3 2.10 Gallstown : This part of the site is located between the Gibbonstown/Mahonstown Road to the north and the old N6 to the south. It is low-lying poorly drained land with extensive established woodland plantations which from part of the original Gallstown Demesne. There are panoramic views of the site from the eastern end of the Gibbonstown/Mahonstown Road particular just north of its junction with 5004 which is slightly elevated. The site has a narrow frontage onto the L5004 where there is a field entrance just north of a crescent shaped cattle shed. 2.11 Gallstown House has been demolished but in the vicinity of the site there are two dwellings. There is also a substantial former residence which is now derelict as well as a derelict cottage and older shed/out buildings. Slightly south west of these building there is a spectacular view of a motte in the adjacent field. This site is adjoined to the south by former formal gardens as evidenced by the highly ordered allees. These gardens are largely overgrown and merge into the surrounding extensive woodland as viewed from the distance. The site of T6, 7 and 8 is just north of these gardens and surrounded by woodland to the east and west as well as dispersed copses to the north. Access from the road north of the site and towards Gallstown House/estate appears to be truncated by gated tracks and farm yards. 2.12 There is a cul-de-sac road from the R400 to the west of these woodlands terminating a couple of hundred metres west of the woodland. There are some dwellings in this vicinity. The lands between the dwellings and the woodland is poorly drained boggy land. 3.0 DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT 3.1 The proposed development comprises the construction of a wind farm incorporating • 9 no.