Longford Planning: Council approve plans for upgrade of Lanesboro power substation

Longford County Council planners have approved planning for the latest phase of works at the former ESB power station at Lanesboro.
The planners have granted permission for the development of the gas insulated switchgear (GIS) compound.

The approval was granted subject to 13 conditions. Back in 2020 Longford County Council first granted planning permission to EirGrid for the redevelopment of the substation site at Lanesboro. The project will involve development of the GIS compound.
That project involved the redevelopment of the existing 110Kv air-insulated switchgear with a gas-insulated substation.

The main function of a GIS substation is to switch, separate, transform, measure and distribute electrical energy in power systems.
The GIS compound will be raised to a ground level of 1.2m higher than the existing ground level at the site. It will comprise of the GIS building with an approximate gross floor space 1624.1m2 and height of 15m, in addition to six lightning protection rods, approximately 3m in height, located on the parapet of the GIS building).

An internal access track measuring approximately 245m in length and 5m in width, 15 no. car parking spaces; underground stormwater attenuation tank; underground foul wastewater pumping station and all associated site development and landscaping works.
The substation compound will be bounded by a palisade fence 2.6m in height and further enclosed by a property fence measuring 1.4m in height.

The development will also consist of the redevelopment of the existing AIS 110 kV substation.
The site address is the existing Lanesboro Air Insulated Switchgear Substation and site of the former Lanesborough Power Station, townlands of Aghamore and Lanesborough, Lanesborough, County Longford.