Planning permission for 74-hectare solar farm in Kells refused
Plans for a 74 hectares solar farm development with energy storage system on lands at Cookstown Great, Kells, have been refused planning permission.
Lightsource Renewable Energy Ireland Limited had sought a ten year permission for a Solar PV Energy Development on a site of 74.2 hectares
The proposed solar farm would be operational for a period of 40 years. A total of nine submissions were made raising a side variety of concerns including the visual impact on residential amenity, traffic, water quality, local wildlife and natural environment,and concerns in relation to battery storage, glint and glare, devaluation of property, and flooding concerns.
The absence of a national, county or regional development plan which would assess the most appropriate locations, scale and density of solar developments was another reason given as well as the proliferation of solar farms in the area. Meath County Council sought further information on the plans and three submissions were made when the further information was submitted.
After considering the additional information, Meath County Council has refused planning permission for the development. Having examined the submitted documentation, the planning authority considered that both the updated Natura Impact Statement and Ecological Impact Assessment were "fundamentally deficient and do not provide a robust or comprehensive ecological assessment of the proposed development".
"In particular, the reports fail to include all relevant and seasonally appropriate ecological surveys in particular insufficient wintering birds surveying that is required to adequately assess the potential for significant adverse effects on the integrity of the River Boyne and River Blackwater SAC and the River Boyne and River Blackwater SPA, including their qualifying interests, associated protected species.
"In the absence of such information, the Planning Authority cannot conclude, beyond reasonable scientific doubt, that the proposed development, either alone or in combination with other plans or projects, would not have significant adverse effects on the integrity of the aforementioned European sites.
“Furthermore, it is considered that the applicant has failed to satisfactorily address the ecological and environmental concerns raised in the Third-Party submissions received, as requested as part of the further information process. In light of the foregoing, the submitted NIS and EcIA are considered unacceptable."