Offaly County Council refuses permission for 8.3-hectare solar farm at 'Lakelands', Clonfinlough, Co. Offaly

In context

It is one of 28 solar farm applications Offaly County Council has received in the past twelve months, against 333 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 18 December 2024. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues.

The development description, as lodged

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

a live/work development at Lakelands, Clonfinlough on approx 8.28 Hectares of land. This will consist of the refurbishment/provision of an access road and gateway from the public road. The retention/refurbishment of an existing (19th Century) single storey, stone built, farm cottage (area 73.8m2) to be repurposed as a communal kitchen and dining area and extended to provide a WC block on the north gable of the cottage. The provision of four new single storey dwellings, three of which are single bed live/work artist studio units. The fourth house will be a two bed house for the sole use of the owner/client. The Gross floor areas of new development will be 505.5m2 The units are proposed to be stand alone and ‘off grid.’ Power for the units will be provided by a solar array laid out at ground level on the site. It is proposed that water will be provided from a well on site, and most of the surface water run- off will be attenuated and filtered for re-use as potable/non-potable water. The group of houses will be serviced in terms of foul water and waste requirements by a proposed septic tank system built and installed to specifications by specialists. Planting of trees and hedging will be installed to screen the development from the road and environs. An access road and hard and other soft landscaping will also form part of the development. A Natura Impact Statement (N.I.S.) has been prepared and accompanies this application