Laois mast rejected over danger of falling on busy road
An Bord Pleanála refuse permission for Vantage telecoms tower
A telecoms mast planned next to a busy Laois road, has been refused planning permission over the danger of it falling on the road.
An Bord Pleanála have rejected approval that was granted to Vantage Towers Ltd, for a 24 metre high telecommunications mast off the N77, the main Portlaoise to Abbeyleix road.
Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) appealed the Laois planners' decision in January 2025.
Vantage Towers Limited was granted planning permission by Laois County Council to remove the 15 metre mast currently at site and replace it with a 24m lattice telecommunications support structure on a 1.2 metre high raised foundation. The site is in the townland of Colt, approximately 2.8km north west of Ballyroan. The council made their decision subject to 10 conditions.
In its appeal the TII had said the new mast is 'significantly taller' and that 'the replacement mast on such a limited site, with or without road verge, presents a risk that the mast may fall onto the N77.'
The Board decided by a majority of 2:1 to overturn permission, going against their own inspector's recommendation.
Explaining their reasons, they note the lack of a layby to safely build the mast, and the lack of a report required by the TII.
"Having regard to the location of the proposed development immediately adjacent to the N77 National Route, Transportation Policy Objective TRANSI of the Laois County Development Plan 2021-2027 which aims to protect the safety, efficiency and capacity of Laois’s roads network, the lack of a Technical Acceptance Report signed off by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), and the lack of detail or certainty in relation to the potential provision of a layby adjoining the site or access to adjoining lands during the construction phase of the development, it is considered that the applicant has not demonstrated compliance with the TII publication DN-STR03001- Technical Acceptance of Road Structures on Motorways and Other National Roads, and has not adequately demonstrated that the proposed development would not pose a traffic hazard.
The Board said it had regard to a TII publication DN-STR-03001- Technical Acceptance of Road Structures on Motorways and Other National Roads which requires the Technical Acceptance process to be completed for masts adjoining national routes.
The Board agreed with the Planning Authority’s Roads Department which recommended that the applicant should submit an approved Technical Acceptance Report by way of further information considering that the Technical Assessment process could have implications for the design and construction of the mast in view of TIl’s concerns in relation to the development.
Bord Pleanála said "in the absence of detail in relation to the potential provision of a layby adjoining the site or access to adjoining lands during the construction phase of the proposed development, there remained an unresolved road safety risk in relation to the construction phase".
In their application, Vantage Towers Ltd had said that "the structure will significantly improve Vodafone 4G coverage with the addition of 5G services. It shall help eliminate coverage blackspots particularly along the N77 and shall make a significant positive contribution to the benefit of residents, businesses, and social enterprises in the surrounding area as well as to the local road network".