elphin local area plan 2009 - 2015 - Roscommon County Council
elphin local area plan 2009 - 2015 - Roscommon County Council
elphin local area plan 2009 - 2015 - Roscommon County Council
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Chapter 10: Development Management Guidelines and Standards<br />
In particular, the following matters will be considered by the <strong>Council</strong> in the assessment of applications for<br />
wind farms.<br />
1. The likely visual impact of the proposal.<br />
2. The likely noise that will be generated by the proposed wind farm (both the mechanical noise<br />
from the turbines and aerodynamic noise from the blades).<br />
3. The likelihood of electromagnetic interference with radio transmissions or with<br />
telecommunications.<br />
4. The ecology, archaeology, geology and heritage of the <strong>area</strong> in which the wind farm is proposed.<br />
5. The safety issues associated with the proposal including matters such as clearance from overhead<br />
power lines, the location of the site in proximity to roads and so forth.<br />
6. The potential impact of the proposal on surrounding land uses.<br />
7. The impact of the construction of the wind farm on access roads and <strong>local</strong> amenity.<br />
Any proposals for the development of wind power will need to be supported by both a technical and an<br />
environmental statement prepared to an acceptable standard. In this regard applicant’s applying for wind<br />
energy developments are advised to consult with the Planning Authority before detailed proposals are<br />
drawn up. Consultations should also be held with the appropriate bodies, such as Department of Transport,<br />
Energy and Communications, the Irish Energy Centre and the ESB.<br />
The following are some of the conditions which will apply where Wind Farms are permitted:<br />
• Blades must rotate in the same direction<br />
• Layout should be compact<br />
• Solid towers should be used<br />
• All grid connection within the site to be underground.<br />
• Limited fencing to be permitted on any part of the site<br />
• Access roads to be unsurfaced, where possible<br />
• Structures must be decommissioned at the life expiry of the farm and the site reinstated<br />
Conditions requiring bonds to ensure satisfactory completion will be attached to permissions.<br />
10.25.1 Micro Renewables<br />
Micro-renewables is the term used to describe a non-commercial renewable energy development, which<br />
provides heat and/or electricity to a single end user (e.g. a single dwelling house, office or community<br />
facility). While micro-renewables generally refer to the actual renewable energy technology/ development,<br />
micro-generation refers to the production of heat (less than 45 kilowatt capacity) and/or electricity (less<br />
than 50kW capacity) from zero or low carbon source technologies. Micro- renewables come in the<br />
following different forms.<br />
• Micro Wind Energy<br />
• Heat Pumps<br />
• Solar<br />
• Small scale biomass<br />
• Small scale hydroelectricity<br />
The council shall endevour to support the utilisation of these technologies particularly considering the<br />
current backdrop of increasing energy prices. The power generated and associated carbon emission<br />
reductions per turbine are relatively small, but cumulative benefits could be significant. Proposed microrenewable<br />
energies shall have regard to the guidelines set out in the Micro-Renewables Consultation<br />
Paper 2006 by the DoEHLG.<br />
Elphin Local Area Plan <strong>2009</strong>-<strong>2015</strong> Page 146