Strong local objections as 474 acre solar farm decision edges closer in Carlow

A 10 year planning permission for a solar farm in County Carlow has been submitted to the Carlow County Council on the 28th of February 2024 with a decision due to be made on the solar farm on the 25th of March 2025.

In the planning application a number of residents in the local area have some strong objections to the proposed solar farm.

The proposed site in Carlow is circa 474 acres and is situated on agricultural lands located approximately 1.9k southwest of Tinryland, 5.1km northeast of Leighlinbridge.

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The details of the solar farm in the planning application read as follows:

A 10 Year Planning Permission for a solar farm with a total area of circa 192 hectares. The solar farm will consist of solar panels on ground mounted frames, 30 no. single storey electrical inverter/transformer stations, 4 single storey spare parts containers.

4 no. Ring Main Units, 8 no. weather stations, underground electrical ducting and cabling within the development site, private lands and within the L3051, L3052 and L3050 public roads to connect solar farm field parcels, security fencing, CCTV, access tracks, 2 no. stream deck crossings.

1 horizontal directional drill, temporary construction compounds, landscaping and all associated ancillary development and drainage works. Construction and operational access will be via 4 no. entrances from the L3051, L3052 and L3050. The operational lifespan of the solar farm will be 40 years and planning permission is requested for this duration. A Natura Impact Statement (NIS) has been prepared and will be submitted to the Planning Authority with the application

On the Carlow Council's planning permission website, a number of submissions have been made on the proposed development some of the concerns include:

One submission has fears over the size of the farm, stating the proposal is much larger than others submitted in Carlow and would be "unsuitable for a peaceful countryside area."

Along with this issue the submission has concerns over "loss of prime tillage land", "devaluation of homes in the area", and "visual impact" amongst other things.

Another submission claims that the proposed development would "threaten the very character and beauty of our landscape."

The same submission thinks the land should "remain for farming, not be covered in metal."

More of the submission can be found on the Carlow Council's planning website can be found HERE.