Galway County Council have refused planning permission for the first application by Coolpowra Flexgen Ltd. (Lumcloon Energy) for the proposed development between Killimor and Portumna. Needless to say, we are delighted with this outcome and its a first win on a long road.

This element of the project was for 224 battery storage units (the size of shipping containers) and a synchronous condenser which is a piece of equipment weighing approximately 170 tonnes.

We would like to thank the community for the enormous support we received. This planning submission had over 350 observations from the community, with over 800 community members putting their names to the An Bord Pleanala submission. This has given our volunteer committee extra motivation to put in the tireless work required to make our collective submission and help others in the community with theirs. We are thankful too for the professionals who fit us into their busy schedules to fight this monstrous planning proposal.

We are also grateful to Galway County Council planning office for reaching the right decision. This development has no place in the chosen location and we expect that An Bord Pleanala will reach the same decision at appeal and for subsequent applications due for decision in January 2025.

The planning applicant now has 4 weeks to submit an appeal to An Bord Pleanala detailing planning grounds of an appeal.

From the letter sent to the applicant:

Main reasons and considerations on which the decision is based:-
The proposed development has been assessed, within the restrictions imposed by the
principles of proper planning and sustainable development and having regard to the policy
objectives of Galway County Council as set out in the 2022 – 2028 County Development Plan.
Based on this assessment it is considered that the proposed development would be contrary
to the proper planning policies as set out in the County Development Plan.

In the reasons provided it goes on to say:

“It is considered, the proposed development would endanger public safety by reason of traffic hazard because of the additional traffic turning movements the development would generate at a point where the proposed site entrance on to the road network is also deemed unsatisfactory, owing to the restricted forward sight distances available at the road frontage, precluding the provision, and maintenance of, a safe and satisfactory means of vehicular access.”

“…it is considered that the development has, in the absence of satisfactory evidence to the contrary, the potential to adversely affect the qualifying interests and conservation objectives of the Lough Derg, North-East Shore SAC (Site Code: 002241) and Lough Derg (Shannon) SPA (Site Code: 004058) and would therefore materially contravene Policy Objective NHB 1 Natural Heritage and Biodiversity of Designated Sites, Habitats and Species, Policy Objective NHB 2 European Sites and Appropriate Assessment, and Policy Objective WR 1 Water Resources, and DM Standard 50 Environmental Assessments of the Galway County Development Plan 2022-2028 and would therefore be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.”

Whatever comes next, we are ready and we are united.