Plans seeking permission for Cork solar farm put on hold after appeals lodged

PLANS for a new solar farm in Cork have been put on hold as appeals have been lodged with An Bord Pleanála.

In July, Harmony Solar Cork Limited lodged an application with Cork County Council seeking 10-year planning permission and a 40-year operation period for the proposed ‘Rahanisky Solar Farm’, comprising 330,200 sq m of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on ground-mounted steel frames.

The application sought permission for a number of other elements including an on-site electrical substation, electrical skids, underground power and communication cables and ducts, boundary security fencing, and a new site entrance to the L6965 local road.

A planning and environmental report submitted on behalf of the applicants set out how the application was one of two being submitted for the overall development. It stated that the proposed development comprised the solar farm element and grid connection route, with the latter part needing permission from Cork City Council to progress because part of the area is in the jurisdiction of the city council.

“The grid connection component comprises of underground electrical cables and traverses the townlands of Rahanisky, Monard and Killeendaniel in Co Cork, before entering Cork City in the townlands of Carhoo, Kilcully and Kilbarry.

“It is proposed to connect the solar farm component to the Kilbarry 110kV Substation in Blackpool, Cork City. The proposed development site is located within both the jurisdictions of Cork County Council (c 61.09 ha) and Cork City Council (c 2.81 ha),” the report stated.

The council requested some further information before making a decision on the solar farm element of the proposed development and ultimately moved to grant permission subject to 40 conditions.

However, the proposed development is on hold following the recent submission of appeals with An Bord Pleanála.

Among the points raised by the appellants is concerns around glint and glare, concerns over road safety and concerns that the development would have a “massive visual landscape effect”.

An Bord Pleanála is due to make a decision on the case at the end of May.