Appeal against solar farm in Newtownmountkennedy

AN Appeal has been lodged with An Bord Pleanála against a solar energy farm in Newtownmountkennedy.

Last month Wicklow County Council granted Today’s Generation Ltd permission for a solar panel array consisting of up to 3041sqm of solar panels on ground mounted steel frames, electricity control room, power inverter unit, underground cable ducts, solar powered CCTV cameras and lamps, security fence and all associated works.

The development was due to take place at Kiltimon, Newtownmountkennedy.

The council decision was appealed and An Bord Pleanála are due to return with a decision by August 8.

Part of the permission granted by Wicklow County Council allows the solar farm to operate for 25 years from the date of commencement on the site.

In deciding to grant permission, the council’s planning department stated that the ‘proposed development would have acceptable impacts on visual amenity, would not seriously injure the residential amenities of property in the vicinity, and would be in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.’

However, a number of conditions were put in place, such as no part of the development should be visible from the N11. In the interest of the visual amenity of the area, all containers, inverters and fencing had to be dark in colour and the external walls finished in a neutral colour. €2,816 in development levies were also sought by the local authority.