An Bord Pleanála Inspector’s Report Development: 110kV circuit from Mullingar 110kV station, Co. Westmeath to Kinnegad 110kV station Co. Meath. Application under Section 182 A Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) Planning Authorities : Westmeath County Council Meath County Council Applicant : Eirgrid Type of Application : Strategic Infrastructure Development Submissions and Observations Westmeath County Council : Yes Meath County Council : Yes Prescribed Bodies : Yes Observers : Yes Inspector : Pauline Fitzpatrick Dates of Site Inspection : 25th & 26th October 2012 Appendices 1. Photographs 2. Extracts from the Robinstown Local Area Plan 2005 25.VA0013 An Bord Pleanala Page 1 of 34 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 The development proposed in this case is presented to An Bord Pleanála by way of a direct planning application under the aegis of the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act 2006. Having regard to the provisions of Section 182E the prospective applicant engaged in pre-application consultation with An Bord Pleanála, arising from which the Board issued a notice informing the applicant that the development of a proposed 110kV circuit falls within the scope of Section 182A of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, with particular regard to section 182A(9) of the said Act and that any application for permission for the proposed development must be made to An Bord Pleanála under Section 182(A)(1). Westmeath and Meath County Councils were also notified of the decision. 2.0 SITE LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION 2.1 The description of the proposed alignment is set out in sections 7.4 - 7.21 of the Planning Report accompanying the application. In brief the line of the proposed 110kV is approx. 24km in length commencing at the Mullingar 110kV transmission station in the townland of Irishtown c.2km to the north-west of Mullingar town centre. The route travels in a north-easterly direction, firstly along local roads and then across undulating agricultural lands in parallel to an existing 110kV power line. It crosses the Royal Canal Feeder Supply and rail line and then runs to the north of the Lough Sheever Corporate Park. From there it takes a southerly direction across undeveloped and forested lands to the west of the N4. The line crosses the N4 at Ballagh to the north of the N4-N52 flyover and then runs in a south-easterly direction parallel to the N4, first traversing agricultural lands then running to the south of Marlinstown landfill (closed) and Marlinstown Bog and to the rear of Hamill’s filling station and finally across agricultural lands before crossing the N4 for a second time in the vicinity of Greatdown. The line then takes a southerly direction, first crossing the Royal Canal and the rail line and then traversing both bog and agricultural land before crossing the local road network at Tornanstown. The route takes an easterly course for a short distance before travelling in a south-easterly direction crossing undulating agricultural land and a number of local roads. The route traverses the R446 and then the M6 at Rattin to the north of Rattin Castle crossing the existing 220kV Shannonbridge-Maynooth power line. The final section of the route takes a southerly then easterly direction across agricultural land finishing in the existing 110kV transmission station to the south (and within) the Lagan Cement complex at Killaskillen c. 4km from Kinnegad. A more detailed description is given of each section of the route in the assessment set out in section 11 below. 25.VA0013 An Bord Pleanala Page 2 of 34 3.0 PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT 3.1 The proposal as described in the public notices is as follows: • Construction of c.24 km of 110kV overhead line (OHL) with shieldwire between the existing Mullingar 110kV transmission station and Kinnegad 110kV transmission station. • The line will consist of three overhead conductors and two overhead shieldwires supported on double woodpole structures. The poles are c. 5 metres apart and up to 21.3 metres in height. 125 woodpole structures are proposed. The use of stays may be required in places where the ground conditions are poor. • 23 lattice steel towers of up to 24.5 metres in height are to be used where the line changes direction. • 1km of underground cabling entering Mullingar 110kV transmission station. • Removal of approx. 6km of existing 38kV line and associated structures extending from Mullingar transmission station. • Realignment of approx. 880 metres of existing 110kV line within the general area of Lough Sheever Corporate Park, Mullingar. 4 double woodpole structures and 2 steel towers are to be used. • 640 sq.m. extension to the western side of Kinnegad 110kV transmission station enclosed by 3 metre high palisade fence. • Associated apparatus at both Mullingar and Kinnegad 110kV transmission stations including new bus bars and lightning protection masts up to 15 metres in height and removal and relocation of existing gantry and line/cable bays. • Removal of existing 220kV tower and construction of new 220kV tower approx. 20 metres in an easterly direction along the line of the existing 220kV Shannonbridge to Maynooth line. This will facilitate the crossing of the proposed Mullingar to Kinnegad 110kV line. • All other associated site development works. 4.0 APPLICATION DETAILS During pre-application consultations the applicant was advised by the Board that the preliminary view was that an EIS was not required. 4.1 The application documents are presented in 4 volumes: Volume A (i) Environmental Report (ii) Figures (iii) Appendices Volume B Statutory Particulars, Planning Application Information, General Documents Volume C Drawings 25.VA0013 An Bord Pleanala Page 3 of 34 Volume D (i) Planning Report (ii) Constraints Report 4.2 The Environmental Report prepared addressed in particular: • Strategic Planning Context • Alternatives Routes • Ecology • Landscape and Visual • Archaeology and Cultural Heritage • Human Health Need for Project 4.3 The need for the project is set out in the Planning Report (Volume D) and is summarised in the Non-Technical Summary of the Environmental Report (Volume A). 4.4 Electricity demand in the Mullingar area has placed continued strain on the transmission network. The existing 110kV network is approaching its technical limit leading to security of supply issues in the area. As the load increases over time this limitation will manifest itself as a decline in network performance in the area. This degradation will be observed as low voltages and the increased potential for voltage dips or supply failure. In order for the transmission network to meet the required performance levels as stipulated by the Transmission Planning Criteria a new 110kV circuit connecting to the Mullingar 110kV station is required. 4.5 The three phases through which the project has been developed to date is detailed. Phases 1 and 2 involved Strategic Planning and the Identification of Constraints and Route Corridors in parallel with a series of public and stakeholder consultations. Comprehensive details of same are set out in Appendix A of Volume A (iii) and Volume D (ii). This application for planning approval constitutes the 3 rd phase. Alternatives 4.6 Sections 6.11 - 6.30 of the Planning Report and the summary in Section 1 of the Environmental Report gives a description of alternative project solutions which included: Alternative Methods 4.7 Voltage support through the installation of capacitor banks in Mullingar 110kV station was considered but was not deemed to represent a viable long-term solution to the voltage issues and did not address the risk of complete loss of supply. 25.VA0013 An Bord Pleanala Page 4 of 34 Undergrounding 4.9 Undergrounding would only be used if all of the following 4 conditions apply (i) an OHL is not environmentally feasible (ii) a technically and environmentally feasible route can be found (iii) the effects the underground cable on the transmission network is acceptable and the relatively poorer ‘availability’ of the underground cable is tolerable and (iv) the higher cost can be justified. Following an assessment it was concluded that the four required conditions do not apply. Alternative Routes 4.10 A Mullingar to Derryiron 110kV transmission station (County Offaly) OHL was considered which would have had a similar technical performance to the Mullingar- Kinneagd 110kV line. There was no preference from a technical perspective. Connection to Kinnegad was selected following environmental analysis of the area and public consultation. 4.11 Once the study area was identified 8 no. alternative corridor routes plus minor variants were assessed (see Constraints Report in Volume D). 5 no. overhead (1km wide) and 3 no. underground (300 metres wide) were identified. The corridors were ascertained using the ‘Holford Rules’ for consideration and evaluation within the context and constraints of major infrastructure, land use and planning issues, environmental designations, visual amenity and built environment. Environmental studies were carried out of the 8 preliminary routes in the key areas of landscape and visual, ecology, and cultural heritage. A Winter Bird Survey was also carried out to determine the locations of any key feeding or roosting sites used by wintering birds listed on the Annex 1 of the Birds Directive which may be prone to collision with transmission lines. Each route was also assessed to identify any design and construction challenges including economic aspects. Three emerging preferred route corridors were identified for further assessment and consultation, with the preferred route corridor selected in which the indicative line was progressed following a review of the constraints within the corridor. Ecology 4.12 The assessment was based on baseline flora and fauna noted during desk and field surveys and in consultation with relevant statutory authorities. 4.13 The proposed line does not cross or abut a designated site under the EU Habitats or Birds Directives.