Kells solar farm refusal of planning appealed

Meath County Council's refusal of planning permission for a 74-hectare solar farm with on lands at Cookstown Great, Kells, has been appealed to an Coimisiún Pleanála.

Lightsource Renewable Energy Ireland Ltd had sought a 10-year permission for a Solar PV Energy Development on a site of 74.2 hectares which would be operational for a 40-year-period.

Meath County Council sought further information and after consideration refused planning permission.

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" and refused planning.

Lightsource Renewable Energy Ireland Limited has now lodged a first party appeal against this decision with an Coimisiún Pleanála.