Council rejects plan for solar farm in Cork's Lee Valley 

A large solar farm at Cork’s Lee Valley has been refused permission by Cork County Council. Developer Aglish Solar Farm Limited sought 10-year permission for a solar farm with a total area of circa 161 hectares and an operational lifespan of 40 years.

The 100MW solar farm would have generated enough electricity to power almost 49,000 homes.

The plans included solar panels on ground mounted frames, 23 single storey electrical inverter/transformer stations, as well as spare parts containers, security fencing, CCTV, weather stations, and underground electrical ducting and cabling within the site.

A range of assessments and screening was undertaken by the developers including a landscape and visual impact assessment which stated: 

“Landscape impacts are not considered to exceed ‘moderate-slight’ significance, even in the immediate context of the site and residual visual impacts are not considered to exceed ‘slight’ significance.” 

There were more than 140 objections lodged against the development by local residents, farmers and community groups, who raised concerns about visual impact and the affect on local roads.

Citing the reasons for refusal, the council’s planning department said: 

“On the basis of information submitted, the applicant has not demonstrated that sufficient archaeological investigations have been undertaken to guide the proposed development towards preserving in-situ potential archaeological features and thereby safeguarding archaeological heritage.

“The proposed development would therefore contravene County Development Plan Objectives HE 16-9 and HE 16-13, would seriously injure the amenities of property in the vicinity, and would set an undesirable precedent if granted permission.”