Council’s solar farm decision overturned
AN Bord Pleanala have overturned another solar planning decision made by Wexford County Council, going against the recommendation of its own planning inspector.
Wexford County Council had refused Highfield Energy Services Limited permission for a 12.7 hectare solar farm at Monfin, Enniscorthy last summer saying that the development would be ‘contrary to proper and the sustainable development of the area’.
Refusing permission the council said that ‘the development due to its scale, siting and elevated nature of the site fails to have regard to its setting in the landscape and have an adverse effect on the visual amenity of the area’.
In addition to this the council also said it ‘is not satisfied that it has been adequately demonstrated that the dwellings to the west of the site will not be adversely effected by glint from the proposed development.
‘Therefore, the proposed development would have a detrimental effect on residential amenity.’
However, Highfield Energy Limited of Dublin appealed the decision to An Bord Pleanala and a decision in its favour was made last week by the Board.
Granting the application with a number of conditions, An Bord Pleanala said ‘it is satisfied that the proposed development, either individually or in combination with other plans or projects, would not be likely to have significant effects on European Sites in view of their conservation objectives’.
The decision comes just a week after the members of Enniscorthy Municipal District said that An Bord Pleanala seemed to be consistently overturning solar farm planning decisions made by Wexford County Council.
At that meeting council executive Deirdre Kearns said ‘a good few (solar farms) have been refused permission by the council but An Bord Pleanala appear to be overturning our decisions.’
In respect of the solar farm at Monfin An Bord Pleanala went on to say that it is ‘satisfied that the proposed development would not be likely to have significant effects on the environment, either by itself or in cumulation with other development in the vicinity, including other permitted solar arrays.
‘The proposed development would not seriously injure the residential amenities of property in the vicinity, would not have unacceptable impacts on the visual amenities of the area, would not result in a serious risk of pollution, would be acceptable in terms of traffic safety and convenience, and would, therefore, be in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.’
‘The Board also noted the Inspector’s view in relation to the absence of natural screening to the houses to the west of the site and did not concur on this matter, having regard to the evidence on file. For these reasons, the Board did not share the Inspector’s view that permission should be refused.’
Some of the conditions imposed on Highfield Solar relate to the boundaries of the site, the direction of the CCTV cameras and payment of a development contribution.