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You are here: Home > Services > County Development Board > County Delelopment Plan > Infrastructure and Services

Infrastructure and Services

• Introduction
• Transportation Overview
• Transport Issues
• Transport Strategy
• Transport Policy
• Service Provision
• Power and Telecommunications
• Development Contributions
• Specific Service Objectives

7.6 Policy on Power and Telecommunications

There are two 110 kV electricity supply stations in the county at Thurles and Roscrea. There are a further eight 38 kV stations at Birdhill, Nenagh, Thurles, Roscrea, Templemore and Toomevara.

Policy SERV 4: Electricity Supply Lines
It is the policy of the Council to seek the undergrounding of electricity lines where possible. Where over ground lines are necessary, they shall be designed to comply with the following:

• They shall not interfere with or damage heritage items, protected structures, sites and areas of archaeological importance;
• They shall not interfere with or damage pNHAs or cSACs or sites of nature conservation;
• They shall be designed so as not to cause detrimental harm to  areas of scenic or designated as vulnerable landscapes;
• They shall be designed so as not to cause detrimental harm to amenity or scenic routes.

The Council recognises that the development of secure and reliable electricity transmission infrastructure is a key factor for supporting economic development and attracting investment to the County. In facilitating such development the Council will insist that such development is provided so as not to cause unnecessary harm to the County's natural resources.

7.6.1 Policy on Wind Energy

One of Ireland's greatest natural resources is its wind, and there is a growing interest in the development of windfarms to harness this resource. North Tipperary does not currently make a contribution to the national grid. In order to remedy this, the Council intends to provide clear guidelines and policies towards the development of wind farms in identified zones in a sustainable manner.

The Council intends to prepare a County Landscape Character Assessment to provide guidelines on the significant visual impacts associated with wind turbines, and such visual impacts will have to be balanced against the benefits associated with such development in terms of their contribution to the economic, social and environmental development of the County.

The provisions of the Kyoto protocol require Ireland to limit its increase in greenhouse gas emissions to 13% above 1990 levels in the period 2008-2012. Ireland is currently the most import dependent country in the European Union for energy. Approximately 86% of the national energy requirement is imported at a cost of approximately €6.25 bn /annum.   The promotion of wind energy will assist in both meeting emissions targets and provide an indigenous energy resource.

The Council will seek a plan-led approach integrating wind resource maps with grid capacity and landscape assessment in order to develop zoned areas throughout the County. To date, the Council has granted a number of wind farms in ideal locations. However, this plan will require a planned approach to wind farms to ensure such development is not sporadic, but part of an integrated strategy. This strategy will form part of the forthcoming landscape character assessment (LCA).

In assessing the potential of the landscape to accommodate windfarm developments, the Council will adopt a precautionary approach.  It is difficult to assess the impact that windfarm developments will have on the landscape, especially in scenic areas and particularly to what extent such development will alter the image that people have of certain landscapes. 

Policy SERV 5: Wind Energy
It is the policy of the Council to facilitate the exploitation of the natural wind energy resource available, provided that it can be demonstrated that such development, and associated infrastructure, is in accordance with the guidelines set out in the County Landscape Character Assessment and other development plan policies in respect of the protection of the environment.

The ESBI has produced wind resource maps for the country that show wind potential in the upland areas of the County. The Council will seek to establish if this wind resource can be extended to lower lying areas of the County.

The areas suitable and unsuitable for wind energy have been identified under the following categories as recommended in the government's Strategy for Intensifying Wind Development and are as follows:

1. Strategic area:  Areas deemed eminently suitable for wind farm development and reserved for such purposes.
2.  Preferred areas: Areas suitable for wind farm development that should be granted planning permission unless specific local planning circumstances within the context of the Development Plan support a decision to refuse.
3. Areas open for consideration: Applications treated on their merits with the onus on the developer to demonstrate why the development should be granted permission.
4. No-Go Areas: Areas identified as particularly unsuitable for wind farm development. This category is used for areas which due to their scenic, ecological, historic or tourism values are unable to accommodate wind development.

The locational policies for wind farms are designed to provide a framework for the development of wind energy specifically and may not be construed to undermine other policies in the County Development Plan.

7.6.2 Policy on Telecommunications

Policy SERV 6: Telecommunications Apparatus
It is the policy of the Council in the consideration of proposals for telecommunications masts, antennae and ancillary equipment, to require the following:

1. the visual impact of the proposed equipment on the natural or built environment, particularly in areas of sensitive landscape or historic importance;
2. the potential for co-location of equipment on existing masts; and
3. Department of the Environment and Local Government "Guidelines for Planning Authorities" (July 1996).

The Council recognises the importance of telecommunications apparatus and overground services to provide improved communications and electricity supply, as these services are vital to the overall competitiveness and economic growth of the County.
Proposals must consider:

1. alternative sites,
2. impact on public health,
3. the long term plans of the developer in the County and the plans of other promoters.

Policy SERV 7: Satellite Dishes
It is the policy of the Council to permit satellite dishes except:

1. on listed buildings where the special character would be harmed; or
2. on the front or side of buildings in a Conservation Area; or
3. in other areas where they would cause unacceptable harm to the visual amenities of the area.

Satellite dishes and telecommunications apparatus, if badly sited, can materially harm the character and appearance of historic buildings, important townscapes and the character of rural areas.

Some satellite dishes may be erected as exempted development under the (Planning and Development) Regulations, 2001. Where permission is required the above policy will apply.

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