Portlaoise landowner appeals plans for 21 kilometre long powerline
The line works were approved by Laois County Council
An appeal has been lodged against plans to upgrade a 21 kilometre long powerline between Laois and Offaly.
The line, which is nearly all in Laois, crosses areas of Bracklone, Lea, Tirhogar, Rathmiles, Rathleash, Garryvacum, Ballybrittas, Emo Park, Cappakeel, Morett, Greath Heath, Ballydavis, Rathbrennan, Ballyclider, Ballymooney, Summerhill or Aghnaharna, Downs, Borris Little, Kylekiproe and Clonminam.
The “uprate” of the 110kV line requires the installation of 90 wooden polesets and 22 steel masts in the Laois section of the line which runs for a total of 21.6 km from the Portlaoise substation in Clonminam to the townland of Bishopswood in Co Offaly.
The work will also involve replacing the existing wires with higher capacity cables and fibre communication wires. A total of 46 wooden polesets and four masts will also be replaced as part of the plan.
According to plans lodged by EirGrid with Laois County Council, 20 kilometres of the 21.6 kilometre line is located in Laois. The plans included a Natura Impact Statement(NIS).
Plans to upgrade the line, known as the Newbridge - Portlaoise 110kV line, were approved subject to 12 conditions in December 2023.
A solicitor on behalf of John Mulhall of Solus Developments Limited, who own lands at Kylekiproe, wrote to Laois County Council during the planning stage. They requested the undergrounding of cables at Kylekiproe and stated that provision had been made to underground cables during works on the Portlaoise Southern Circular Road.
Through the solicitor, the landowner stated that Laois County Council had acquired part of their land to build the Southern Circular Road and part of the agreement included a provision for ducting to allow for the future underground of existing and 38kV and 110kV cables.
However, the underground was not included in the conditions when the plans were approved by Laois County Council last December.
A planners report noted further information had been requested during the planning stage in relation to the matter.
“The response sets out a reasoned justification for not undergrounding in the vicinity of the R945 Portlaoise Southern Circular Road,” the planners report states.
The plans for the Newbridge Portlaoise line upgrade have now been appealed to An Bord Pleanala by Solus Developments Limited.
The case is due to be decided in May this year.