ROUTE CONSTRAINTS REPORT SOCIO -ECONOMIC , LANDUSE , LANDSCAPE , FLORA & FAUNA , WATER , SOILS , CULTURAL HERITAGE AND STATION LOCATION REPORT Prepared for Eirgrid to support a Planning Application for the Cavan-Tyrone 400kV Interconnector Project Client: Eirgrid 27 Fitzwilliam Street Lower Dublin 2 By: AOS Planning Limited 4th Floor Red Cow Lane 71 / 72 Brunswick Street North Smithfield Dublin 7 Tel 01 872 1530 Fax 01 872 1519 E-mail: [email protected] www.aosplanning.ie FINAL REPORT - SEPTEMBER 2007 All maps reproduced under licence from Ordnance Survey Ireland Licence No. SU0001105. © Ordnance Survey Ireland Government of Ireland. Cavan-Tyrone 400kV Interconnector Project Table of Contents Section 1 – Executive Summary ......................................................... 5 1.1 The Project .................................................................................. 5 1.2 Route Corridor Alternatives ........................................................... 5 1.3 Key Findings with Regard to Impacts Arising .................................. 5 1.4 Conclusion ................................................................................... 6 1.5 Terms of Reference ...................................................................... 6 1.6 Strategic Planning Context ............................................................ 7 1.7 Socio-Economic ............................................................................ 7 1.8 Landuse ....................................................................................... 8 1.9 Landscape.................................................................................... 8 1.10 Flora and Fauna ........................................................................... 9 1.11 Water ........................................................................................ 10 1.12 Soils........................................................................................... 11 1.13 Cultural Heritage ........................................................................ 12 1.14 Station Location.......................................................................... 12 Section 2 – Background and Terms of Reference............................. 14 2.1 Terms of Reference .................................................................... 14 2.2 Background and Project Team..................................................... 15 Section 3 – Project Description ........................................................ 17 3.1 Site Location .............................................................................. 17 3.2 Project Description...................................................................... 17 3.3 Structures to be Used ................................................................. 18 3.4 Route Selection Process and Issues ............................................. 20 3.5 Study Area and Route Corridors................................................... 21 Section 4 – Strategic Planning Issues .............................................. 23 4.1 Introduction ............................................................................... 23 4.2 Project Need .............................................................................. 23 4.3 Strategic Options ........................................................................ 23 4.4 Supply Options ........................................................................... 24 4.5 Connection Options..................................................................... 24 4.6 Route Options ............................................................................ 24 4.7 Design Options ........................................................................... 24 Section 5 – Socio Economic Report .................................................. 26 5.1 Introduction ............................................................................... 26 5.2 Proposed Development ............................................................... 26 5.3 Strategic Planning Context .......................................................... 26 5.4 Existing Environment .................................................................. 28 5.5 Predicted Impacts....................................................................... 32 5.6 Mitigation Measures .................................................................... 33 AOS Planning Limited Page 2 Cavan-Tyrone 400kV Interconnector Project Section 6 – Landuse Report.............................................................. 34 6.1 Introduction ............................................................................... 34 6.2 Methodology .............................................................................. 34 6.3 Proposed Development ............................................................... 34 6.4 Existing Environment .................................................................. 34 6.5 Predicted Impacts....................................................................... 36 6.6 Mitigation Measures .................................................................... 36 Section 7 – Landscape Report .......................................................... 37 7.1 Introduction ............................................................................... 37 7.2 Proposed Development ............................................................... 37 7.3 Methodology .............................................................................. 37 7.4 Receiving Environment................................................................ 38 7.5 Potential Impacts........................................................................ 41 7.6 Evaluation of Route Corridors and Conclusion............................... 41 Section 8 – Ecology Report............................................................... 42 8.1 Introduction ............................................................................... 42 8.2 Study Area ................................................................................. 42 8.3 Preliminary Ecological Evaluation ................................................. 42 8.4 Issues of Concern....................................................................... 45 8.5 Conclusions and Recommendations ............................................. 45 Section 9 – Water Report.................................................................. 52 9.1 Introduction ............................................................................... 52 9.2 Assessment Methodology ............................................................ 52 9.3 Information Sources ................................................................... 52 9.4 Receiving Environment................................................................ 53 9.5 Discussion of Findings................................................................. 61 9.6 Characteristics of the Proposed Development ............................... 62 9.7 Potential Impact of the Proposed Development ............................ 62 9.8 Remedial and Mitigation Measures............................................... 64 9.9 Route Selection .......................................................................... 68 9.10 References ................................................................................. 68 Section 10 – Soils Report.................................................................. 70 10.1 Introduction ............................................................................... 70 10.2 Assessment Methodology ............................................................ 70 10.3 Information Sources ................................................................... 70 10.4 The Receiving Environment ......................................................... 71 10.5 Characteristics of the Proposed Development ............................... 73 10.6 Potential Impacts of the Proposed Development........................... 73 10.7 Remedial and Mitigation Measures............................................... 75 10.8 Route Selection .......................................................................... 76 10.9 References ................................................................................. 76 AOS Planning Limited Page 3 Cavan-Tyrone 400kV Interconnector Project Section 11 – Cultural Heritage Report.............................................. 77 11.1 Introduction ............................................................................... 77 11.2 Description of the Proposed Development .................................... 77 11.3 Methodology .............................................................................. 77 11.4 Archaeological, Architectural and Cultural Heritage in the Receiving Environment......................................................................................... 78 11.5 Architectural Heritage ................................................................. 85 11.6 Impact Assessments ................................................................... 85 11.7 Route Option Appraisal ............................................................... 91 Section 12 – Station Location Report............................................. 111 12.1 Introduction ............................................................................. 111 12.2 Methodology ............................................................................ 111 12.3 General...................................................................................