Planning has been refused for a major solar farm in North Kerry over concerns it would impact on the character and visuals of the landscape.
Statkraft Ireland Limited had applied to Kerry County Council for a ten-year planning permission for a solar panel development across around 120 hectares in North Kerry.
The site is between Listowel and Ballylongford, across the townlands of Ballyline West, Coolkeragh, and Kilgarvan.
The planning application sought permission for ground-mounted solar PV panels on steel support structures, as well as transformers, security fencing and gates, and 181 CCTV cameras around the perimeter.
The application included a 33kV underground cable, and the developer said it would provide up to 70 MW of renewable energy for the grid.
The application received a number of submissions, including some from local residents who criticised the potential impact on their properties and the locality.
Kerry County Council’s planner noted that the landscapes and scenery are not just of amenity value but constitute an enormous economic asset.
The planner wrote the proposal is considered unacceptable on visual grounds, and the possible obtrusive impact on the character of the rural landscape.
The council’s planner said the lack of details provided relating to site drainage and flooding was also a concern.
Kerry County Council refused permission for the development, noting the development would be visually obtrusive and would unduly impact on the scenic value of the area, which is designated as a visually sensitive area.
Another reason given was that the solar farm would significantly impact on the character of the rural area, and it was also not set back far enough from the public road.
The council also concluded that implications of surface water runoff or potential impacts on biodiversity were not sufficiently addressed in the application.
