Bord Pleanala grants permission for solar farm

A solar farm at Willville has been given the green light by an Bord Pleanala despite objections from local residents.

The Board upheld the decision by Louth County Council to grant planning permission to Wexford Solar Limited for the solar farm which will be located on a 10.11 hectare site at Willville.

The Willville Solar Action Group, comprising local residents, had lodged an appeal against that decision highlighting concerns about the impact which the development will have on the landscape, local amenity and traffic.

Last week. An Bord Pleanala ruled in favour of the development which will comprise a solar PV energy development of maximum export capacity 4MW, to include one ESB Networks substation building with a height not exceeding 4m, two electrical transformer stations with a height of 2.7m, site access roads and solar PV panels mounted on steel support structures 2.65m in height, associated cabling and ducting and fencing.

The solar farm will be unmanned and will be monitored remotely by CCTV cameras using passive infrared technology.

In recommending the granting of permission, the Inspector from An Bord Pleanala noted that there were no national guidelines relating to siting or environmental guidelines around solar panel developments. However, Louth County Council’s development plan supported renewal energy resources in rural areas.

The project has a 25 year lifespan after which time all structures and equipment will be removed and the land returned to agricultural use.