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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2560469 - F.I. Received Doc. - FI Response Letter Energy next to you Proposed Wind Turbine – Connolly Meats Limited Co. Monaghan May 2026 RFI Response Planning Reference Number: 25/60469 RECEIVED: 26/05/2026 Greenvolt Next www.next.greenvolt.com Confederation House, Block C&D, Waterford Business Park, Cork Rd, Waterford, X91T449 Contents 1. INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW 3 2. RESPONSE TO FURTHER INFORMATION ITEMS 3 Item 1 - R07 Consent Letter 3 Item 2 - Shadow Flicker 4 Item 3 - Environmental Protection Reports 7 Item 4 - Revised Construction and Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) 8 Item 5 - Updated Planning Report 9 Item 6 - Third-Party Submission 10 3. OVERALL CONCLUSION 11 RECEIVED: 26/05/2026 Greenvolt Next www.next.greenvolt.com Confederation House, Block C&D, Waterford Business Park, Cork Rd, Waterford, X91T449 1. INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW This document has been prepared on behalf of Connolly Meats Limited in response to the Request for Further Information issued by Monaghan County Council in respect of Planning Ref. 25/60469. The proposed development comprises the erection of one 850 kW Vestas V52 wind turbine within the operational lands of Connolly Meats Limited at Dundrumman, Scotstown, Co. Monaghan. The proposed turbine has a hub height of 65 metres, a rotor diameter of 52 metres and an overall tip height of 91 metres, together with associated civil, electrical and site works. The purpose of the proposed development is to generate renewable electricity primarily for direct on -site use by the existing Connolly Meats food-processing facility. The project will support the decarbonisation of the existing agri-food operation, improve energy resilience and reduce reliance on grid-supplied electricity. The Request for Further Information relates principally to the following matters: • written consent from the owner/occupiers of residential property R07; • shadow flicker mitigation and automated turbine shutdown measures; • Water Framework Directive assessment, revised Natura Impact Statement, revised Ornithology Report and Water Protection Checklist; • revised Construction and Environmental Management Plan; • updated Planning Report having regard to the Monaghan County Development Plan 2025 –2031; and • response to the third-party submission received in relation to the proposed development. This response, together with the supporting technical documentation and appendices, addresses each item raised by the Planning Authority. The submitted information demonstrates that the proposed development can be accommodated without giving rise to unacceptable impacts on residential amenity, environmental protection, water quality, ecology, landscape and visual amenity, noise or shadow flicker, subject to the mitigation and monitoring measures set out in the submitted documentation. 2. RESPONSE TO FURTHER INFORMATION ITEMS The following section responds to each item raised by Monaghan County Council in the Request for Further Information. Item 1 - R07 Consent Letter The Planning Authority notes that the submitted noise assessment concludes that ‘Turbine noise levels will comply with the fixed lower WEDG-06 limits at all receptors outside of R07, during daytime and night- time hours, regardless of whether the turbine operates at 100 dB mode or 102 dB mode’. Notwithstanding the applicant’s commitment to carrying out a commissioning stage survey and the letter of consent submitted from the occupants of property ‘RO7’, having regard to Section 15.17 ‘Renewable Energy RECEIVED: 26/05/2026 Greenvolt Next www.next.greenvolt.com Confederation House, Block C&D, Waterford Business Park, Cork Rd, Waterford, X91T449 Development’ of the Monaghan County Development Plan 2025-2031 and section 5.7.7 of The Draft Wind Energy Guidelines (2019), In the interests of residential amenity, the applicant is requested to provide written consent from the owner/occupiers of ‘affected’ residential property ‘R07’ signed by both parties and witnessed by a solicitor. Response: A written consent letter has been obtained from the owner/occupiers of residential property R07. The letter is signed by Teresa Connolly and Hugh Connolly and has been witnessed by solicitor Mary Doherty. The letter is dated 13 March 2026 and confirms that the signatories are aware of the proposed wind turbine development, including its approximate proximity to the dwelling, and have no objection to the submission of the planning application. The signed R07 Consent Letter is provided below as part of this response. Item 2 - Shadow Flicker Having regard to the findings of the submitted Shadow flicker Assessment Report, in the interests of residential amenity and to adequately mitigate the impacts of shadow flicker, the applicant is requested to provide further details of specific measures which provide for the automated shut down of the proposed turbine in the event that maximum allowed levels are exceeded. Response: The applicant confirms that the proposed Vestas V52 turbine will be operated with a dedicated shadow flicker automated shutdown protocol. The submitted Shadow Flicker Assessment identifies the receptors where shadow flicker could theoretically occur and provides the modelled date and time windows during which shadow flicker may arise. These modelled occurrence windows will be used to prepare a receptor-specific shutdown schedule prior to commissioning of the turbine. The shutdown schedule will be programmed into the turbine controller / SCADA system. The turbine will therefore be automatically curtailed or shut down during the relevant predicted shadow flicker windows to ensure that the applicable guideline thresholds of 30 hours per year and 30 minutes per day are not exceeded at residential receptors. The principal components of the automated shutdown protocol are summarised in Table 1 below. Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the proposed automated shutdown process and the associated compliance and review process. Table 1 – Summary of Shadow Flicker Automated Shutdown Measures Measure Description Receptor-specific shutdown schedule A receptor-specific shutdown schedule will be prepared using the submitted WindPRO shadow flicker modelling. The schedule will identify the relevant dates, start times, end times and affected receptors for each predicted shadow flicker occurrence window. SCADA programming The shutdown schedule will be programmed into the turbine controller / SCADA system prior to commissioning of the turbine. RECEIVED: 26/05/2026 Greenvolt Next www.next.greenvolt.com Confederation House, Block C&D, Waterford Business Park, Cork Rd, Waterford, X91T449 Automatic shutdown The turbine will be automatically curtailed or shut down during the programmed shadow flicker windows to prevent exceedance of the applicable guideline thresholds at residential receptors. Conservative calendar- based control The shutdown protocol will be applied on a conservative calendar -based basis using the modelled shadow flicker windows, providing a clear and enforceable mitigation measure. Commissioning verification Prior to full operation, the applicant will verify that the shutdown schedule has been correctly programmed into the turbine control system. SCADA / shutdown logs SCADA records and shutdown logs will be retained to demonstrate when shadow flicker-related curtailment or shutdown has occurred. First-year compliance monitoring During the first year of operation, the applicant will review SCADA records and shutdown logs to confirm that the automated shutdown protocol is operating as intended. Complaint response and adjustment mechanism If a shadow flicker complaint is received from a residential receptor, the operator will investigate the event and adjust the shutdown schedule where necessary to prevent recurrence. Ongoing compliance The automated shutdown schedule will remain in place for the operational lifetime of the turbine, unless updated modelling or agreement with the Planning Authority confirms that amended shutdown periods are appropriate. The shutdown schedule will be prepared using the submitted Shadow Flicker Assessment and WindPRO modelling outputs and will identify the relevant dates, start times, end times and affected receptors for each predicted shadow flicker occurrence window. The schedule will include all residential receptors where the assessment identifies any predicted daily exposure above 30 minutes under the conservative worst -case scenario, namely receptors D, F and H. Receptor E will also be included for completeness, althou gh it is identified as a non-residential receptor. Prior to full operation, the applicant will verify that the shutdown schedule has been correctly programmed into the turbine controller / SCADA system. A commissioning record confirming implementation of the automated shutdown protocol will be retained by the operator and made available to Monaghan County Council upon request. During operation, SCADA records and shutdown logs will be retained to demonstrate that the turbine has curtailed or shut down during the programmed shadow flicker windows. During the first year of operation, the applicant will review SCADA records and shutdown logs to confirm that the automated shutdown protocol is operating as intended. A summary of the first-year monitoring findings will be retained by the operator and can be made available to Monaghan County Council upon request or submitted in accordanc e with any planning condition attached to a grant of permission. A shadow flicker complaint response procedure will also be implemented. If a complaint is received from a residential receptor, the operator will review the relevant date, time, weather conditions and turbine operating status, and the shutdown schedule will be adjusted where necessary to prevent recurrence. The automated shutdown schedule will remain in place for the operational lifetime of the turbine, unless updated modelling or agreement with the Planning RECEIVED: 26/05/2026 Greenvolt Next www.next.greenvolt.com Confederation House, Block C&D, Waterford Business Park, Cork Rd, Waterford, X91T449 Authority confirms that amended shutdown periods are appropriate. The overall process is summarised in Figures 1 and 2 below. Figure 1 – Shadow Flicker Automated Shutdown Process Figure 2 – Shadow Flicker Compliance and Review Process RECEIVED: 26/05/2026 Greenvolt Next www.next.greenvolt.com Confederation House, Block C&D, Waterford Business Park, Cork Rd, Waterford, X91T449 Existing hedgerows and vegetation will also be retained where practicable to provide additional local screening. The applicant is willing to accept a planning condition requiring the implementation of the above automated shutdown protocol and associated monitoring measures. Prior to commissioning, the applicant will prepare and implement a Shadow Flicker Compliance Monitoring and Reporting Programme, if required by condition, to include review of SCADA shutdown data and post-commissioning compliance verification. The proposed mitigation provides a clear, enforceable and operationally practical mechanism for automatic shutdown of the turbine during identified shadow flicker risk periods. On this basis, the proposed development can be operated in compliance with the applicable shadow flicker thresholds and without giving rise to unacceptable impacts on residential amenity. Item 3 - Environmental Protection Reports In the interests of Environmental protection, the applicant is requested to provide the following; i. A water framework directive assessment of the impact of the proposed development on receiving surface and ground waters. The information submitted shall be prepared by a suitably qualified person and shall be sufficient to demonstrate that there will be no deterioration in Water Framework Directive status as a result of the proposed development. ii. A revised Natura Impact Assessment (NIS) and Ornithology report, including associated maps, which accurately reflect the exact location of the proposed wind turbine. iii. A water protection checklist Response: The requested environmental protection documentation has been prepared by VEON Ecology, a suitably qualified environmental consultancy, and is submitted as part of this Further Information response. The submitted documentation for this item includes the Water Framework Directive Compliance Assessment, revised Natura Impact Statement, revised Ornithology Report and Water Protection Checklist. The revised Construction Environmental Management Plan is also submitted and is addressed separately under Item 4. The Water Framework Directive Compliance Assessment considers the potential impact of the proposed development on receiving surface water and groundwater receptors. It identifies the relevant WFD waterbodies, existing waterbody status, potential construction-phase pathways and the mitigation measures required to ensure that the proposed development will not result in deterioration in Water Framework Directive status. The revised Natura Impact Statement has been updated to reflect the proposed wind turbine development and assesses the potential for effects on relevant Natura 2000 sites, including Slieve Beagh SPA and its qualifying interest, Hen Harrier. The revised Ornithology Report is also submitted to address ornithological considerations associated with the proposed development, including the local bird population, protected bird species and the relationship between the proposed turbine and relevant bird receptors. RECEIVED: 26/05/2026 Greenvolt Next www.next.greenvolt.com Confederation House, Block C&D, Waterford Business Park, Cork Rd, Waterford, X91T449 The Water Protection Checklist has been completed in accordance with the requirements of the Monaghan County Development Plan 2025–2031 and is submitted with this response. The associated Site Drainage Plan is included with the Water Protection Checklist and is also appended to the revised CEMP. The relevant documents are included as follows: Appendix A – Water Framework Directive Compliance Assessment Appendix B – Revised Natura Impact Statement Appendix C – Revised Ornithology Report Appendix D – Water Protection Checklist, including Site Drainage Plan Item 4 - Revised Construction and Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) In the interests of environmental protection, the applicant is requested submit a revised Construction and Environmental Management Plan (CEMP). The submitted CEMP shall include the following; I. Identify potential surface water pathways for pollutants and shall take account of the EPA PIP_P flow delivery pathways mapping. II. Include provision for buffers to be maintained (at least 10m) from any drains/ditches identified on site. III. Detail a sampling plan and shall identify locations where daily visual checks and weekly physio -chemical monitoring of the River Maghery upstream and downstream of the site will be carried out. IV. Shall take account of guidance produced by Inland Fisheries Ireland entitled “Guidelines on Protection of Fisheries during Construction Works in and Adjacent to Waters 2016”. V. Be sufficient to demonstrate that adequate measures are in place during the construction phase to ensure there is no discharge of polluting matter/sediment laden waters to any watercourse. VI. Contain details regarding the supervision of the implementation of the CEMP by an Ecological Clerk of Works or suitably qualified environmental professional. Response: A revised Construction Environmental Management Plan has been prepared and is submitted with this Further Information response. The revised CEMP has been updated to address the matters raised by the Planning Authority, including potential surface water pathways, drainage management, water quality monitoring, Inland Fisheries Ireland guidance, pollution prevention and environmental supervision. The EPA PIP-P flow delivery pathway information has been assessed within the Water Framework Directive Compliance Assessment, where it is considered most relevant to the assessment of potential water quality effects and the development of appropriate mitigation measures. The WFD Assessment has therefore informed the water protection measures included in the revised CEMP, Water Sampling Plan and Site Drainage Plan. Following site review, a drainage ditch was identified adjacent to the proposed development area. This drainage ditch flows along the Connolly Meats property and outfalls under the local road towards the Maghery Stream. Given the existing poor WFD status and at-risk status of the receiving waterbody, a precautionary approach has been adopted. RECEIVED: 26/05/2026 Greenvolt Next www.next.greenvolt.com Confederation House, Block C&D, Waterford Business Park, Cork Rd, Waterford, X91T449 In relation to the Planning Authority’s request for a 10 m buffer from drains / ditches, the applicant confirms that a 10 m buffer will be maintained from drainage ditches where practicable. It is acknowledged that, in localised constrained areas adjacent to the proposed access track and proposed underground power cable, the full 10 m buffer cannot be achieved due to the design constraints of the proposed development. Where the full 10 m buffer cannot be achieved, additional site -specific water protection measures have been developed and incorporated into the revised CEMP, WFD Assessment, Water Sampling Plan and Site Drainage Plan. These measures have been informed by the Water Framework Directive Assessment and relevant best -practice guidance, including CIRIA guidance and Inland Fisheries Ireland’s Guidelines on Protection of Fisheries during Construction Works in and Adjacent to Waters, 2016. The revised CEMP includes measures to prevent sediment, hydrocarbons, cementitious material or other polluting matter from entering any drain, ditch or watercourse. These measures include runoff control, silt control, management of exposed soils and stockpiles, protection of drainage pathways, spill prevention and response procedures, and environmental supervision during construction. A Water Sampling Plan has been included as Appendix 1 to the CEMP. The Water Sampling Plan identifies upstream and downstream monitoring locations on the River Maghery relative to the drainage ditch outfall and sets out the monitoring frequency, parameters, trigger levels and response actions. The monitoring programme includes daily visual checks during construction, weekly physico-chemical field monitoring and weekly grab sampling, as set out in the Water Sampling Plan. The Site Drainage Plan has been included as Appendix 2 to the CEMP and is also included with the Water Protection Checklist. Implementation of the revised CEMP, including the Water Sampling Plan and Site Drainage Plan, will be supervised by an Environmental Clerk of Works or suitably qualified environmental professional. The Environmental Clerk of Works will review water sampling data and will have authority to halt works where trigger levels are exceeded or where pollution indicators are identified. On this basis, the revised CEMP and associated supporting documentation demonstrate that appropriate construction - phase measures are in place to protect surface water, groundwater and downstream receiving waters, and to ensure that no polluting matter or sediment-laden water is discharged to any watercourse. The revised Construction Environmental Management Plan is included in Appendix E. The Water Sampling Plan and Site Drainage Plan are included as appendices to the CEMP. The VEON response letter regarding Item 4(ii) is included in Appendix F. Item 5 - Updated Planning Report The Planning authority notes that the submitted supporting planning statement incorrectly refers to the now expired 2019-2025 Development Plan and polices contained therein. In the interests of clarity, the applicant is requested to provide an amended supporting planning statement which has specific regard to policies contained in the current RECEIVED: 26/05/2026 Greenvolt Next www.next.greenvolt.com Confederation House, Block C&D, Waterford Business Park, Cork Rd, Waterford, X91T449 Monaghan County Development Plan 2025-2031. Response: The supporting Planning Report has been reviewed and updated to address the Planning Authority’s comments. The updates made to the Planning Report relate to the current planning policy framework, the Monaghan County Development Plan 2025–2031, and clarifications arising from the Further Information response and accompanying technical reports. No material change to the nature, scale or extent of the proposed development is proposed. All references to the expired Monaghan County Development Plan 2019 –2025 and the policies contained therein have been removed. The Planning Report has been amended to have specific regard to the current Monaghan County Development Plan 2025–2031. The updated Planning Report now refers to the relevant policies and development management standards of the current Development Plan, including those relating to renewable energy, climate action, residential amenity, visual amenity, ecology, water protection, surface water drainage, noise and shadow flicker. In particular, the updated Planning Report has regard to Chapter 8, Section 15.17 Renewable Energy Development, Renewable Energy Policy REP 1, Section 15.22.6 Water Protection and Section 15.22.7 Surface Water Drainage of the Monaghan County Development Plan 2025–2031. The updated Planning Report is included in Appendix G. Item 6 - Third-Party Submission A third-party submission has been received with respect to the development proposed. The applicant is invited to review the content of same and respond to the issues raised. Response: The applicant has reviewed the third-party submission received in relation to the proposed development. The submission raises matters relating primarily to Article 6(3) of the Habitats Directive and the requirement for the proposed development to be assessed for compliance with the Water Framework Directive. The submission does not raise a specific technical objection to the turbine layout, construction methodology or operational characteristics beyond these environmental assessment matters. The applicant has addressed these matters through the additional environmental documentation submitted as part of this Further Information response, including the revised Natura Impact Statement, revised Ornithology Report, Water Framework Directive Assessment, Water Protection Checklist and revised Construction and Environmental Management Plan. The revised Natura Impact Statement and revised Ornithology Report have been prepared to reflect the exact location of the proposed wind turbine and associated works. These documents assess the potential for effects on European Sites, habitats, ornithological receptors and relevant ecological pathways, having regard to the nature, scale and location of the proposed development.The Water Framework Directive Assessment considers potential impacts on receiving surface water and groundwater receptors and has been prepared to RECEIVED: 26/05/2026 Greenvolt Next www.next.greenvolt.com Confederation House, Block C&D, Waterford Business Park, Cork Rd, Waterford, X91T449 demonstrate that the proposed development will not result in deterioration in Water Framework Directive status, subject to the implementation of the mitigation measures set out in the submitted documentation. The revised Construction and Environmental Management Plan and Water Protection Checklist provide further detail on construction-phase environmental protection measures, including surface water controls, pollution prevention, drainage management, inspection, water quality monitoring and supervision by an Ecological Clerk of Works or suitably qualified environmental professional. The applicant considers that the revised environmental documentation provides the Planning Authority with the information required to complete its assessment of the proposed development, including in respect of Article 6(3) of the Habitats Directive and the Water Framework Directive. On this basis, the applicant considers that the matters raised in the third -party submission have been appropriately addressed. 3. OVERALL CONCLUSION This Further Information Response is submitted together with the supporting technical documentation required to address the matters raised by Monaghan County Council. The response includes the signed R07 Consent Letter, shadow flicker automated shutdown protocol, Water Framework Directive Compliance Assessment, revised Natura Impact Statement, revised Ornithology Report, Water Protection Checklist, VEON response letter regarding Item 4(ii), revised Construction Environmental Management Plan, updated Planning Report and response to the third-party submission. The submitted information demonstrates that the proposed 850 kW wind turbine can be accommodated within the operational lands of Connolly Meats Limited without giving rise to unacceptable impacts on residential amenity, visual amenity, ecology, hydrology, surface water, groundwater, public roads, noise or shadow flicker, subject to the mitigation and monitoring measures set out in the submitted documentation. The proposed development is consistent with national renewable energy and climate action policy and with the Monaghan County Development Plan 2025–2031. It will generate renewable electricity primarily for direct on - site use by the existing Connolly Meats food-processing facility, supporting energy resilience, decarbonisation and the sustainable operation of an established local employer. On this basis, it is respectfully submitted that the Further Information request has been fully addressed and that the proposed development remains acceptable in planning terms. RECEIVED: 26/05/2026 RECEIVED: 26/05/2026 RECEIVED: 26/05/2026