Getting your planning application right! Nuala O Connell, Senior Executive Planner. Tipperary County Council

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1 Getting your planning application right! Nuala O Connell, Senior Executive Planner Tipperary County Council

2 Planning Consent One Piece in Financial Planning and Business Case. Legal Agreements Grants Environmental Regulation the Puzzle

3 Introduction What does Planning do? What does Planning Policy mean for you? When you need planning and when you don t? How can we help?

4 County Development Plans & Renewable Energy

5 Tipperary s Renewable Energy Strategy 58 Wind Farms 297 Turbines Constructed 9 Solar Farms 5 anaerobic digesters 2 no. small scale hydro

6 Is Planning Permission required for Renewable Energy Developments? Planning permission from the Local Authority required for any development of land or property unless the development is specifically exempted from this need. Development includes the carrying out of works (building, demolition, alteration) on land or buildings and the making of a material (i.e. significant) change of use of land or buildings.

7 Micro-Generation - Renewable Energy Development and Exemptions Purpose of exemptions is to avoid excessive controls on developments of a minor nature. Thresholds relating to, size or height etc are set out in legislation Exemptions apply to specified wind turbines, solar panels, heat pumps, boilers.

8 Example: Exempted Development Solar panels Total area must not exceed 50sqm or 50% of total roof area, which ever is lesser, Total area of any wall-mounted or freestanding solar array shall not exceed 25sqm. The height of a free standing solar array shall not exceed 2m at its highest point above ground level etc.

9 RE wind turbines - typical scales of development RE development at the Micro or small scale For example: Wind Turbines under specified height 20m. Large scale or commercial Produce wind energy for sale the National grid or for use on site i.e. in large factory or farm. Must apply directly to Eirgrid or ESB networks for grid connection and to the local authority for Planning Permission.

10 The gross floor area of the boiler house must not exceed 20 sq. m. The maximum exempt height for any flue, 2 are allowable, is 20m above ground level and the maximum diameter of same is 1m. The boiler house must not be within 10m of a public road or 100 metres from the nearest inhabited building such as a school, church, hospital etc. unless the written consent of the occupant is given. Noise levels must not exceed 43 db(a) at the nearest party boundary. Biomass Boilers

11 Can I meet the planning officer in advance of submitting my planning application? Large and complex development proposals are invited to attend planning office for pre-planning meeting (by appointment). Free of charge and informal. No obligation to proceed with the development Guidance will be given, but a definite indication of planning success cannot be provided. It is useful to have preliminary drawings and specifications of project to assist in discussions with planning officers and other local authority staff.

12 What is the process of a planning application? Submit planning application and the timeline is commenced. Objections and submissions accepted by Planning Authority up to week 5. Planning authority must decide to grant, refuse or request further details before end of week 8. If further details requested, the applicant has 6 months to respond, and planning authority must make decision within 4 weeks once further details are received. Final grant issued 4 weeks after decision to grant permission. Development contributions 4 weeks grace is to facilitate an appeal to An Bord Pleanála. Energy in Agriculture 2016 Gurteen Agricultural College, Tuesday 23 rd August

13 You and your Agent? Get the right agent for the right job. You may need more than one i.e. Architect, engineer, ecologist, planner, archaeologist etc. Communication Energy in Agriculture 2016 Gurteen Agricultural College, Tuesday 23 rd August

14 Considerations for Every Local Authority Ministerial Guidelines County Development Policy Roads Safety Visual Impact Public Health Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) / Habitat Directive Assessment Energy in Agriculture 2016 Gurteen Agricultural College, Tuesday 23 rd August

15 Environmental Impact Assessment RE Source Wind Turbines, Autoproduction and Commercial Solar Panels Roof and Ground Mounted Biomass Processing & Anaerobic Digestion & Combined Heat & Power Hydropower, including Pumped Hydro Electric Storage Geothermal & Heat Pumps Development Management Standards Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Requirement Schedule 7 of Planning & Development Regulations. Habitats Directive Assessment. No Manatory Threshold for EIA however, environmental assessment should be carried out. Habitats Directive Assessment screening. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Requirement Schedule 7 of Planning & Development Regulations. Habitats Directive Assessment. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Requirement Schedule 7 of Planning & Development Regulations. Habitats Directive Assessment. Impacts on the environment are dependant on scale of development. Energy in Agriculture 2016 Gurteen Agricultural College, Tuesday 23 rd August

16 Key Messages Get the right agent. Do your research. Talk to your neighbours. Identify the right site. The Planning Authority is there to help you.

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