211565
a 10-year permission and 35 year operation for a solar farm on four land parcels as described herein; North Parcel(Gortnakistin townland) approximately 23.78 hectares, Central Parcel(Ballyvalode & Keeloges townlands) approximately 43.49 hectares, South Central Parcel(Gortyvahane and Moanroe townlands) approximately 34.7 hectares, South Parcel(Garryduff, Moanroe, Moanoola and Kilmacogue townland) approximately 39.27 hectares. The Central Parcel, South Central Parcel and South Parcel are collectively referred to as the Main Solar Farm; a route corridor of 0.58 hectares for an underground internal network cable along the R507 and L5040 public roads for approximately 600 metres and within the solar farm lands for approximately 1,260 metres. The total site area for the proposed development is approximately 141.8 hectares. The proposed development on these parcels comprises of 755,000sqm 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; site entrances to the R507 public road(site entrance to main solar farm) and the L5040 public local road(North Parcel); CCTV cameras and all associated site services and works. Works for the internal network cable comprise trenching for an underground medium voltage electrical cable and associated joint bays and infrastructure, for a distance of approximately 560 metres on the R507 Regional Road, approximately 100 metres on the L5040 Local Road and approximately 1,260m within the solar farm lands. As part of a separate Strategic Infrastructure Development(SID) planning application provision of a 110kV electrical substation with electrical control building, associated compound with palisade fence and 2no. overhead line masts, which is to be located within the main solar farm, will be lodged with An Bord Pleanála in due course. A Natura Impact Statement (NIS) will be submitted to the Planning Authority with the application
Core Refusal Reason
The proposed development would result in significant adverse impacts on the archaeological heritage and the integrity of the archaeological landscape, specifically regarding the setting and preservation of multiple recorded monuments.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The scale and layout of the solar farm would negatively impact the setting and character of ten recorded archaeological monuments, including ringforts and barrows, located within and adjacent to the site.
- The applicant failed to provide sufficient evidence to rule out significant glint and glare impacts on the surrounding road network (R507 and L5040), posing a potential traffic safety hazard.
- The industrial nature and vast scale of the proposal (141.8 hectares) would be incongruous with the existing rural landscape character and visual amenities of the area.