Terra Solar wins approval for Cork energy plan

ESB-BACKED Terra Solar has been given the go-ahead by An Bord Pleanála for the development of another large solar farm in Co Cork.

The company already has permission for other sites in the county and has just submitted a planning application to construct a further solar farm in Cork.

The development for which An Bord Pleanála has just given the all-clear will be located in Ballinvuskig, just to the south of Cork city. It is expected to be able to generate more than 10MW of electricity.

Cork County Council had approved the solar farm on the 44-hectare site, but the decision was appealed by a number of locals.

They told An Bord Pleanála that the lands where Terra Solar proposed the project were zoned for agricultural use and were located within a greenbelt. They also contended that the proposed solar farm was industrial in nature and not compatible with the land use objectives.

Their objections contained a number of other grounds for urging the planning watchdog to reject the project.

“In my opinion, having regard to the location of the development in a rural area, the topography of the site [and] the proposed landscaping, the proposed development would not have a significant negative impact on the existing visual amenities or rural character of the area and would not negatively impact on tourism,” noted the An Bord Pleanála inspector.

The planning watchdog’s board agreed and approved the project.