300-acre solar farm gets go-ahead for Cortown

Plans for a 300-acres solar farm development in the Cortown area of Kells have been given the green light by An Bord Pleanala despite strong local opposition to the development.

Harmony Solar Meath Limited was granted planning permission last August for a solar farm on two parcels of land totalling 121.5 hectares at Milltown and Moyaugher Lower, Cortown, Kells.

The planning application lodged by Harmony Solar Meath Limited in March 2021 sought a 10 year permission for a solar farm on two sites- the north parcel at the Milltown townland of approximately 41.2 hectares and the south parcel at the Moyaugher Lower townland of approximately 80.3 hectares. The plans included up to 734,000 sq.m of solar photovoltaic panels on ground mounted steel frames, inverter/transformer stations, underground power and communication cables and ducts, boundary security fencing, new internal access tracks, associated drainage infrastructure, together with new site entrances to the L6835 public local road for the north parcel and the L8003 public local road for the south parcel.

The operation of the solar farm would be for 35 years.

Eleven submissions were lodged with Meath County Council on the plans, including one on behalf of 55 residents. Following the granting of planning permission for the development by Meath County Council, three third party appeals were lodged with Bord Pleanala, including one on behalf of 63 residents.

Having considered the appeal, Board Pleanala granted permission for the development in line with its inspector's recommendations, with conditions.

In its order, the Board considered that subject to compliance with the conditions set out, "the development was in compliance with European, national and regional renewable energy policies and with the provisions of the Meath County Development Plan 2021-2027, would not seriously injure the visual or residential amenities of the area or of property in the vicinity, would not interfere with a protected view and prospect of importance or have an unacceptable impact on the character of the landscape or on cultural or archaeological heritage, would not have a significant impact on ecology, would be acceptable in terms of traffic and pedestrian safety and convenience, and would make a positive contribution to Ireland's renewable energy requirements."

"The proposed development would therefore be in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area," the order stated.

A separate Strategic Infrastructure Development that was lodged directly with Bord Pleanala for a 110KV electrical substation with electrical control building, associated compound with palisade fence and two overhead line masts, in the north parcel, has also been approved by Bord Pleanala.