Overview
ILOS Energy, a leading independent power producer in the solar photovoltaic sector, engaged Entrust Services to manage all pre-construction planning compliance activities for a large-scale renewable energy infrastructure project in Roscrea, Co. Tipperary. This project includes the Sheehys 110kV substation and a connecting overhead line essential components of a Strategic Infrastructure Development (SID) under Section 182A of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended).
The substation will link four approved solar farms; Sheehys (148 acres), Derrymore (72 acres), Monaincha (350 acres), and Brehonys Bog (84 acres), to the national electricity transmission grid operated by EirGrid. As one of the largest developments of its kind, this project forms a vital part of Ireland’s transition to renewable energy.
Objective
Entrust Services was tasked with ensuring complete discharge of the pre-construction planning conditions linked to both the substation and the solar farms. These approvals were crucial to enable works to proceed to the construction phase, ensuring compliance with statutory environmental, archaeological, and design requirements imposed by Tipperary County Council and national stakeholders.
Alongside planning documentation, Entrust Services was also entrusted with coordinating key environmental, technical, and stakeholder submissions as part of the project’s pre construction deliverables.
Challenges
Archaeological Sensitivity
The development area intersects landscapes that include recorded monuments and features of cultural and historical significance. Uncontrolled construction activity posed the risk of unintentional damage to heritage assets.
Ecological Considerations
The scale of the project required exceptional care in protecting localised habitats of high ecological value. The presence of sensitive flora and fauna, as well as bird and mammal species, triggered the need for detailed ecological studies and protection plans.
Regulatory and Design Complexity
With multiple linked planning permissions, the SID designation, and several stakeholders including local authorities, EirGrid, and infrastructure bodies, strict coordination and timeline management was key. Design standards had to satisfy both planning authorities and technical infrastructure partners alike.
Solutions
Entrust Services implemented a holistic, multidisciplinary strategy to ensure full compliance while maintaining momentum toward breaking ground:
Stakeholder Collaboration: Maintained direct communication with Tipperary County Council, Irish planning authorities, and ILOS Energy’s technical team to ensure clarity of expectations and prompt issue resolution.
Planning Compliance Management: Reviewed and discharged all conditions imposed under previous permissions for the substation and solar farms, ensuring full regulatory alignment.
Environmental and Heritage Planning: Developed a Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP), along with comprehensive mammal and bat survey reports, ensuring minimisation of biodiversity impacts.
Archaeological Safeguarding: Delivered archaeological monitoring documentation through collaboration with specialist consultants, ensuring cultural features were preserved and protected.
Advanced Design Submissions: Produced detailed layouts and technical planning drawings using GIS and CAD tools, supporting both constructability and regulatory compliance.
Results
Entrust Services successfully discharged all pre-construction planning conditions on schedule, clearing the pathway to begin construction. The project is now nearing completion.
