Major North East Galway solar farm refused planning

PLANS for a largescale solar farm in the Lackagh, Turloughmore, and Knockdoe areas have been refused by Galway County Council.

The development was planned for 229 acres of land in the townlands of Knockdoemore, Lackagh Beg, Knockdoebeg West and Cahernashilleeny, in the vicinity of both the Turloughmore and Claregalway GAA grounds.

The application from Blackthorn Solar Farm Ltd, a subsidiary of BayWa r.e. Ireland Ltd, has been rejected by Galway County Council, with the council citing five grounds for its refusal.

It is the second largescale solar farm to be rejected in recent weeks by the council following the refusal for the Belville Solar Farm project, which was earmarked for nearly 600acres of land in Ballyglunin, Abbeyknockmoy and Monivea.

In its refusal for the Blackthorn Solar Farm, county planners deemed the road network unsuitable to carry the required additional traffic from HGVs during the development. They also had concerns over the impact the proposed grid connection works would have on the council’s ability to carry out essential future works, such as drainage upgrades and the installation or extension of group water scheme mains.

Planners also had concerns that the development would endanger public safety by obstructing road users, while also noting the project would contravene with the Archaeological Conservation and Preservation sections of the Galway County Development Plan.

Some 160 submissions were made regarding the application, most of which were from local residents, schools, sporting organisations and public representatives.

“This was a community that had never done anything like this before,” said Breeanna Dunne of the Lackagh–Knockdoe Solar Action Group, responding to the council’s decision.

“160 came in from a standing start, from people who read the documents and set out what they found. The council has now refused the application on five grounds, three of them following submissions from State bodies. We are grateful to everyone who took the time.

“We have never been against solar energy. What we asked for was that this application be properly assessed. That is what happened.”

It's not yet known if the decision will be appealed to An Coimisiún Pleanála.