Solar farm proposed at Castleharrison, Ardnageehy, Co. Cork

In context

It is one of 52 solar farm applications Cork County Council has received in the past twelve months, against 337 nationally. Of the 573 such applications decided by councils in the past three years, 92% were granted.

What happens next

The five-week window for public submissions has closed. The council normally decides within eight weeks of the application being lodged, unless it requests further information, which stops the clock.

The development description, as lodged

Verbatim from the Cork County Council register. This is the source for every figure in the story above.

The proposed development will consist of a 10-year planning permission for the construction of, and a 40-year operation and subsequent decommissioning of, a development consisting of a 55.55 -hectare solar farm (redline boundary) and underground grid connection route. The proposed solar farm consists of two separate land parcels separated by the proposed M20 Motorway that are connected by underground electricity cabling to be constructed underneath the proposed M20 Motorway. The proposed development also crosses the public road (L5529) to connect to the previously consented Ardnageehy Solar Farm (ABP-320298-24) and from there to the national grid at the consented and built Ballyroe 110kV Substation (ABP-314431-22) by way of an underground grid connection previously determined by An Commisiun Pleanála to be exempt development (ABP-322563-25). The proposed solar farm will comprise of a series of ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) panels mounted on ground support pole structures, with concrete shoes used in certain areas to protect an existing gas pipeline that traverses the site and a badger sett feature. The proposed development also includes electrical inverters/transformers, underground cabling, and 2 no. temporary construction compounds. Access to the western land parcel will utilise the existing internal access track from an existing entrance onto the public road, while access to the eastern land parcel will be provided by a proposed 275m (approximately) internal access track and existing site entrance from the public road, CCTV poles and cameras, deer-type security/boundary fencing with a section of the boundary fencing installed on concrete shoes to protect a badger sett, landscaping and biodiversity measures and all ancillary development works to generate renewable energy electricity and transmit it in the townlands of Castleharrison, Ardnageehy and Ballynadrideen, County Cork. In accordance with Article 239 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 (as amended), notice is hereby given: a) that a Natura Impact Statement will be submitted to the planning authority with the application, and b) that the Natura Impact Statement will be available for inspection or purchase at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy during office hours at the office of the planning authority. This development is covered by the provisions of the Renewable Energy Directive III (Directive (EU) 2023/2413) and it is important to note that the planning application may be subject to section 34D of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. When a notice issues in accordance with section 34D(b), the provisions of article 26A of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 to 2025 shall apply. The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the Planning Authority, County Hall, Carrigrohane Road, Co. Cork, during its public opening hours, i.e. 9.00a.m. to 4.00 p.m. Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays). A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee, €20, within the period of- (a) 5 weeks, or (b) 2 weeks, in the case of a planning application for small-scale solar energy equipment development or development that is the installation of a small-scale non-ground source heat pump, beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application, and such submissions or observations will be considered by the planning authority in making a decision on the application. The planning authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant permission.