Full planning permission has been granted for the North South Electricity Interconnector.
Infrastructure Minister, Nichola Mallon approved the plans which will create a 400kv overhead electricity line connecting with the Republic of Ireland.
The applications were previously approved by Department for Infrastructure (DfI) on 23 January 2018, however following a legal challenge and a court ruling, the two applications to secure NI’s electricity supply were quashed by the Courts and remitted back to the Department for determination.
Minister Mallon said: "Following the quashing of the previous decision, I have carefully reconsidered the proposal and the up-to-date environmental information and have concluded that planning permission should be granted for the development which remains of strategic importance for our island economy. I have also taken into account the report by the Planning Appeals Commission that included a full consideration of the planning issues and endorsed the significant strategic importance of the development for Northern Ireland and its compliance with planning policy.
"The North South Electricity Interconnector remains crucial to handling growing demand across the electricity transmission systems across the island of Ireland, promoting greater competition within the Single Electricity Market (SEM) for wholesale electricity trading and to protecting security of supply."
Alliance Infrastructure spokesperson Andrew Muir MLA welcomed the announcement.
He said: "Increasing the capacity of the all-island electricity grid will lower bills for people here, and facilitate future economic growth and investment.
"It is also of vital importance to the future electrification of our roads network via renewable energy, as we roll out the infrastructure required for more electric cars on our roads.
"Getting planning permission for the North-South Interconnector has been a long time in the making. Planning permission for the scheme was granted in the Republic of Ireland as far back as 2016. Regionally significant planning decisions still take far too long in Northern Ireland, and this must be addressed."
Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Construction News
15/09/2020
Full Planning Permission Granted For North-South Interconnector
Latest Construction News
29/11/2024
Plans for a new housing development in Carney, Co. Sligo, have significantly progressed after a contract for construction was signed by County Council members. The development, which was designed by Hamilton Young Architects and will be constructed by Kilcawley Construction, consists of 25 homes ...
29/11/2024
South Dublin-based Killinarden Park has officially opened following improvement works. Nicholas de Jong Associates carried out the planning and design work on the project with Clonmel Enterprises Ltd civil contractors realising the vision on the ground. Enhancements to the park include provision ...
29/11/2024
Water supply has been restored to the vast majority of impacted areas in Galway City following repairs, Uisce Éireann has announced. Detection crews from the company isolated the source of a significant burst which occurred in the Docks area of the city yesterday, with works being carried out this ...
29/11/2024
A refurbished running track and new padel courts were officially opened in Greystones, Co. Wicklow, this week. An Taoiseach Simon Harris officially opened the track and padel courts, based at Shoreline Leisure, while also present were the Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council, Cllr Paul O Brien, ...
29/11/2024
The Construction Employers Federation (CEF) and Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations (NIFHA) have raised major concerns regarding the approved proposal to increase the Standard Connection Charge for a newbuild house by 123% in 2025. The proposal, put forward by NIE Networks to the ...
29/11/2024
Green infrastructure improvements have been successfully completed at Claudy Country Park in L'Derry. Upgrades to the play area at the location as well as safety and access works in the wider park were carried out as part of the green infrastructure enhancement project, which was made possible by ...
28/11/2024
Plans to build 674 new homes in the Clooney Road area of L'Derry have been given the green light. South Bank Square submitted the application, which entails a residential development comprising 33 detached and 473 semi-detached dwellings as well as 168 apartments, to Derry City and Strabane ...
28/11/2024
A new wastewater treatment facility in Ballyronan, Co, L'Derry, has been successfully completed following an investment of £5m from NI Water. GEDA Construction was the main contractor for the 18-month contract, while Water Solutions Ireland completed extensive mechanical and electrical ...
28/11/2024
The Clontarf to City Centre (C2CC) Active Travel Project has officially been opened by Dublin City Council. The project connects the Royal Canal Greenway to the East Coast Trail and part of the Tolka Valley Greenway, providing a safe, pleasant and continuous segregated walking and cycling route ...
28/11/2024
Approximately €1.5 million in payments have been processed under the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant scheme in Offaly. The grant, which aims at turning vacant or derelict houses and buildings into permanent homes or rental properties, has thus far saw 129, out of 196, applications approved in ...