Solar farm plan appealed

A plan to build a €30 million solar farm on a cutaway bog near Roscrea has been appealed to An Bord Pleanála.

Last July, Tipperary Co Council granted conditional planning permission for the development at Leonard's Bog, The Sheehy's, Derrymore. A large volume of local residents objected to the plan.

Proposed by IGP Solar 8 Ltd, the project consists of a 58.11 hectare Solar PV farm with a 30-year operation and subsequent decommissioning of a series of ground-mounted photovoltaic panels. An ESB control room, CCTV poles and cameras, fencing, landscaping, and site entrance and access roads are also included in the plan. The proposed solar farm will have a capacity of 25MW.

An appeal against the plan was lodged this month by the Derrymore Solar Farm Concern Group. An Bord Pleanála is to make a ruling on the case by December 18th next.