Louth County Council refuses permission for 18.5-hectare solar farm at Haggardstown, Dundalk, Co. Louth

In context

It is one of 6 solar farm applications Louth County Council has received in the past twelve months, against 351 nationally. Of the 572 such applications decided by councils in the past three years, 92% were granted.

What happens next

The applicant, or anyone who made a submission on the application, can appeal the decision to An Coimisiún Pleanála within four weeks of 23 January 2024. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues.

The development description, as lodged

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

Large-scale Residential Development (LRD) Application (10 Year) inc. EIAR & NIS - (see www.haggardstownlrd.ie) for: (1) 502 no. residential units ranging in height from 1-3 storeys comprising 26 no. 4-bedroom semi-detached houses [147.8sqm GFA each]; 210 no. 3-bedroom terraced houses and semi-detached houses [ranging from 88.9sqm – 100sqm GFA, some of which include garden sheds]; 1 no. 3-bedroom bungalow [111.5sqm GFA]; 214 no. 2-bedroom houses [73.6sqm GFA each]; and 52 no. 1-bedroom maisonettes [ranging from 56.5sqm – 81.4sqm GFA]; (2) A 2-storey creche [c.570.7sqm GFA] with associated external play area [c.813sqm]; (3) Public open space [totalling c.4.69ha of which c.3.09ha comprises strategic amenity space] and private open space [private gardens serving the houses, bungalow and maisonettes]; and (4) Vehicular, cyclist and pedestrian access/egress and associated circulation routes [including the construction of new dedicated entrance to the R172 Blackrock Road with a southbound right hand turning lane and a new northbound bus stop, 2 no. new pedestrian access points routes to Bóthar Maol and 1 no. new pedestrian and cycle path access point along the northeastern boundary to Bóthar Maol]. The development will also consist of: (5) 762 no. car parking spaces [including 738 no. residential spaces, 4 no. accessible visitor spaces and 20. no spaces serving the proposed creche]; (6) Electric vehicle charging infrastructure; (7) 660 no. bicycle parking spaces [502. no residential spaces; 120 no. visitor spaces; 6 no. long-term spaces for the creche; 16 no. visitor spaces for the creche and 16 no. shared spaces serving the proposed strategic amenity/public open space]; (8) Bicycle storage; (9) Bin storage; (10) Photovoltaic roof panels; (11) 6 no. ESB sub-stations; (12) Undergrounding and diversion of existing 10kV and 20kV overhead power lines; (13) Provision of public lighting; (14) Boundary treatments including gates, piers and railings; (15) Equipped play areas; (16) Public art and wayfinding; (17) All hard and soft landscaping; (18) Provision of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems; (19) 1 no. Type 3 Wastewater Pumping Station and associated 24hr underground emergency storage tank; and (20) All other site excavation, infrastructure and development works above and below ground, including changes in level, cut, fill and the infilling of lands, retaining features, resurfacing and site servicing [foul and surface water drainage and water supply]