Laois Solar Farm granted planning permission
Image for illustration purposes
Coimisiún Pleanála has finally granted permission for the long-gestating, long-contentious solar farm in the townlands area of northern Co Laois; in the environs of Morette, Killone, Cappakeel, Rossmore and Raheenahown. The approval was the end of a road mired with controversy and planning objections by many groups, including concerned locals, planning agencies and even some local environmental groups.
The planning permission extended to a ten-year permission and 40-year operational life for a solar farm on five parcels of land. The project is led by Ørsted Onshore Ireland Midco Limited, a regional subsidiary of the Danish energy giant, and has been co-joined by various individuals who owned the land locally or who had invested in the project. They include: David Hainsworth and others (third party appellant) (active), Shane and Ailish Mooney (third party appellant) (active), Damien McCarthy (third party appellant) (active), Tom and Claire Milner (third party appellant) (active) and John Nerney (third party appellant) (active).
Prior to approval of the solar farm, various concerned locals met in Emo hall to discuss the development. They expressed concern for the fact that the farm would – instead of being located on inarable bogland – be stretched across five different townlands of agricultural lands and questioned the suitability of locating ‘an industrial complex’ in a rural community, owing to the fact that the project, which could take up to 18 months, would involve the passage of an estimated 16,000 heavy goods vehicles along local roads – the gathering heard that the use of these roads for the project could pose serious safety issues for pedestrians, cyclists and students commuting to schools in Monasterverin, Portarlington and Portlaoise.
Additional concerns were expressed about the potential impact on house prices in the area, given the development would be so large that it could be seen from the Rock of Dunamase – one of the main tourism hotspots in Laois. Transport Infrastructure Ireland also issued a formal objection to the development, saying: "The proposed development, because of its location where particular vigilance is required, would endanger public safety by reason of traffic hazard."
The proximity of the development to heritage sights like Emo Court and Morette castle also sparked controversy, with a local natural impact statement raising the prospect that the local wildlife that ply the river, including otters and salmon, could be affected.
In the planning permission statement, An Bord Pleanála stated that if the solar farm ceases operation for a period of more than one year, that the solar arrays, including foundations/anchors/concrete shoes, and all associated equipment, shall be dismantled and removed permanently from the site, with the site having to be decommissioned fully within three months of the start of the decommissioning process.
It also said that all mitigation measures in relation to archaeology and cultural heritage, as set out in the archaeological impact assessment, shall be implemented in full, with all the resulting and associated archaeological costs set to be borne by the developer.
