Green light for local solar farm

An Bord Pleanála has given the go-ahead for a solar farm development outside Nenagh.

Tipperary Co Council had granted conditional planning permission to John Fogarty for the construction of a solar PV panel array consisting of up to 22,500 square metres of solar panels with associated site works at Lisbrien. Third party observations outlining grounds of objection to the plan were received by the council from 12 local parties. Concerns were raised over health, property devaluation, visual and environmental impact, planning guidelines, archaeology, lack of consultation with the community, glint and glare, use of agricultural land, location of flight paths, lifespan of the solar farm and site restoration, operation, maintenance, safety and noise.

An appeal against the local planning authority's decision was made to An Bord Pleanála in the name of Kieran Timmons, Kilmore, Capparoe.

But the board upheld the council's decision, having regard to the nature, scale and extent of the proposed development, the decision made in respect of Appropriate Assessment screening, national targets for renewable energy contribution, national and local policy support for developing renewable energy, location, distance to dwellings, planning history of the site, submissions and the likely consequences for the environment and proper planning. The board granted permission for the Lisbrien solar farm, subject to revised conditions.