Major 7 km Laois powerline upgrade gets the green light
The Portlaoise to Coolnabacky powerline application was approved by An Bord Pleanala
An Bord Pleanala has given the green light for a major upgrade to 7.3kms of electrical line between Portlaoise and Coolnabacky.
Solus Developments Limited of Ballyroan, Portlaoise, appealed the plans which had been approved by Laois County Council last December.
Solus Developments Limited said the 110kv line passes within lands in its ownership which are zoned town centre. It said the lines should be undergrounded at these locations. However, An Bord Pleanala disagreed and granted permission.
The project will include the replacement of the existing 110kV powerline with higher capacity wiring and the refurbishment of 43 electrical transmission towers. The total area of the work covers an area of approximately 37 hectares.
Aside from the new electrical cable, Eirgrid also plans to run a new fibre cable along the line and to carry out work on existing poles.
The work is planned for Meelick, Money Upper, Rathleague, Hophall, Ballymooney, Money Lower, Dysart, Lamberton Demesne, Derry, Clonminam, Powelstown, Kylekiproe and Cappoley, and Esker.
According to the plans, “the development will consist of refurbishment works to the OHL(Overhead Line). Refurbishment works will vary from each of the existing 43 no. existing electricity transmission towers and will comprise: (i) Replacement (“restringing”) of the existing overhead line conductor wires with a higher capacity conductor; (ii) Installation of a new fibre communication connection between existing wooden intermediate poleset (IMP) 118 to existing angle mast (AM) 145; (iii) Strengthening of 4 no. existing AMs and associated foundations; (iv) Replacement of 26 of the 37 no. existing IMPs with similar structures, except for existing IMP105 to be upgraded to AM (AM105).”
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Further work is planned to poles along the line and the work will require “the provision of a construction compound located at either Kylekiproe or Esker, access routes, silt traps, silt fences, stone tracks, ground protection mats, infrastructure crossing support systems (e.g., guard poles and goal posts) and temporary watercourse crossings.”
Also, EirGrid said, “where required, an aerial catenary stringing system (ACSS) will be used to facilitate stringing operations over major obstacles (e.g., national roads, rivers, etc.). The planning application was accompanied by a Natura Impact Statement.
The plans were appealed by Solus Developments Limited on January 6, 2025. The Bord approved the planning application on May 23.