ESB, through its wholly owned subsidiary Gort Windfarms Ltd, has submitted applications with An Coimisiún Pleanála (previously An Bord Pleanála) for the Derrybrien Wind Farm Decommissioning Project. It is necessary to make two separate applications and both applications have been lodged simultaneously with An Coimisiún Pleanála (previously An Bord Pleanála). These applications are as follows:
- an application for substitute consent in relation to the Retained Development, under section 177E of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (“the 2000 Act”) – being the retention in situ and in perpetuity of part of the existing development – including at- and below-ground structures such as turbine and other foundations; and development associated with historic peat slide events that occurred during construction such as barrages, peat repositories, on-site borrow pits, quarries etc.
- an application for planning permission to carry out the Prospective Development, under section 37L of the 2000 Act– being decommissioning works to remove the majority of above-ground features from the site – including all turbines, masts, electrical plant, overhead lines etc; and enable the final decommissioning of the site.
In accordance with the 2000 Act, each application for permission is accompanied by appropriately detailed environmental assessment documents. The application for substitute consent for the Retained Development is accompanied by a remedial Environmental Impact Assessment and a remedial Natural Impact Statement. The application for planning permission for the Prospective Development is accompanied by an Environmental Impact Assessment Report and a Natura Impact Statement.