Planning board rule gas plans for Limerick be considered locally

DEVELOPERS behind plans for a new gas-fired power plant in t have been told they will not be able to bypass local planners.

Kilshane Energy Ltd is planning to construct a multi-million euro gas-fired power plant at the former quarry site in Luddenmore near Ballyneety.

The plant would be capable of generating power for up to 300,000 homes, but would primarily be used to tackle energy shortages which may occur during extreme weather periods.

However, in March, the scale of the opposition to the plans became clear.

More than 800 people signed an online petition against the project, while some 53 groups and individuals contacting council, mostly opposing the application.

Following this, Kilshane Energy withdrew its planning application for the €150m project.

Since then, representatives of the firm, which is based in Armagh, have written to An Bord Pleanala in a bid to discover whether it could be considered a so-called strategic infrastructural development.

Normally, big capital schemes like roads and other public infrastructure would fall under these categories.

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Applications in this category are considered to be of “strategic economic or social importance to the State of the region in which it would be situated.”

It means scrutiny of the application would bypass local planners, with a decision ultimately made by the national planning appeals body.

In a summary of the case from the inspector presiding over it, Alaine Clarke, it's stated the applicant does not believe it should constitute strategic infrastructural development.

In the case, Kilshane Energy representatives stated that the development would generate up to 293 megawatts (MW)of electricity.

To be considered strategic, a total output of 300 MW or more would be required, Inspector Ms Clarke wrote.

“The prospective applicant states in their pre-application documentation that the proposed development would not exceed 293MW of power generation and is therefore below the threshold,” she added in her inspector's report.

She recommended that if Kilshane wishes to proceed with this development, a planning application to Limerick City and County Council must be made.

It is a stance An Bord Pleanála's board agreed with.

The focus will now switch back to Kilshane Energy to decide whether it re-submits a planning application for a gas-fired power plant in the area.

Although powered by fossil fuels, gas-fired power generators emit fewer greenhouse gases than existing coal and other fossil fuel plants.

Earlier this year, the firm declined to comment on the reasons for the withdrawal of the initial application.

However, one of the members of an action committee set up in opposition to the project Suzanne Higgins, said at the time that it's felt that a fresh application would be forthcoming.

Kilshane had an application rejected by Fingal County Council to build a similar facility on the northside of Dublin.