Core Refusal Reason
The Inspector recommended a grant of permission, concluding that the proposal is consistent with national and local renewable energy policies, is appropriately sited in a landscape with high absorption capacity, and that any potential impacts on traffic, visual amenity, and glint/glare can be adequately mitigated by conditions.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The solar farm supports national and regional policy objectives for renewable energy and agricultural diversification without conflicting with the County Development Plan.
- The site’s 'backland' nature and location within a 'Lowland' landscape unit ensure that visual impacts are negligible and well-assimilated into the prevailing landscape pattern.
- Technical concerns regarding glint/glare on transport infrastructure and the grid connection crossing the M11 motorway are resolved by provided assessments and can be managed via monitoring and standard procedural agreements.
Cited Policies (CDP)
Objective EN07Objective EN10Objective EN18Objective L04Chapter 14 Heritage (Landscape Character Assessment)Chapter 18 Development Management StandardsObjective ES01 (Draft Wexford County Development Plan 2022-2028)
Decision Document Summary
This report concerns a proposed 129-hectare solar farm development in Co. Wexford, featuring 555,000 m2 of panels and an operational life of 35 years. The site is split into two parcels (North and South) near the M11 and a railway line, primarily consisting of agricultural lands. While Wexford County Council initially refused permission based on five grounds—including impacts on the national road network, inadequate grid connection details, drainage/soil erosion risks, visual impact, and glint/g...SOURCE PDFOpen Original
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