Proposed solar farm on large Offaly site turned down

Offaly County Council has refused planning permission for a large solar farm development proposed for a 247 hectare site in the county.

Derrycarney Solar Ltd, a sister company of Lumcloon Energy Ltd, submitted an application for a 10-year grant of planning permission for the development, which was earmarked for land some 6km east of Cloghan, along the R357 regional road between Cloghan and Blueball.

The application for the development was lodged in January and was for a 40-year operational period. It was stated that, if approved, the project could supply approximately 140,000 MWh (megawatt hours) per annum of renewable power to the national grid.

However, in a decision made on Wednesday, March 22, Offaly County Council turned down planning permission, saying the development would be "incongruous" and "out of character" with the area for which it was proposed.

Derrycarney Solar's planning application stated that twelve Offaly landowners had entered into lease option agreements allowing the use of their land for the proposed solar farm, which was to be connected to the Derrycarney 110kv substation.

The proposal was for solar Pv panels on ground-mounted frames, within existing field boundaries, along with 30 medium-voltage power station enclosures, two temporary construction compounds, perimeter fencing, CCTV cameras and landscaping works.

The company behind the application has an address at Axis Business Park in Tullamore, and Nigel Reams and Jake Bracken were listed as its directors.

An appropriate assessment screening report and a Natura Impact Statement, prepared by the Moore Group environmental services contractor, were submitted with the planning application.

The reports stated that the development was proposed for "an area of arterially drained agricultural land," and that the surrounding area "comprises large areas of grassland, cutaway raised bog and plantation forestry".

The Natura Impact Statement supplied by the applicant concluded that, "with the implementation of appropriate mitigation measures, specifically with regard to surface water," the development would not have significant effects on the River Shannon Callows Special Area of Conservation or the Middle Shannon Callows Special Protection Area.

Outlining its reasons for refusing permission, the council said the development would be "out of character" and "an incongruous feature in the landscape" at the proposed location, which was entirely within "a High Sensitivity Area and Area of High Amenity".

If planning permission was granted, the local authority said, it "would set an undesirable precedent for similar proposals into the future".

The council also noted the proximity of the development to the Grand Canal, and said the proposal "fails to protect the recreational and amenity potential of this waterway or enhance the appearance and character of the surrounding area".

A third reason given for the refusal of planning permission was that the applicant had "failed to provide a suitable site selection assessment" in accordance with the Offaly County Development Plan 2021-2027.

Derrcarney Solar Ltd has four weeks, from March 22, in which it can appeal the decision to An Bord Pleanála.