‘Disingenuous at best’ —Over 350 submissions made on controversial Galway solar farm project
The application for what could be one of Ireland’s largest solar farms has garnered almost record-breaking submission numbers from concerned Galway residents.
The Belleville Solar Farm development, lodged to Galway County Council by Power Capital Renewable Energy (PCRE), has passed the 45-day application completion checkpoint, confirming the application will proceed to a decision on the 259-hectare development.
The notification stated: “[The applicant] has completed the validation process of the planning application and has also carried out the completeness check, confirming that the applicant has sent the information required to process the application.”
Around the same time, submissions on the application closed, with the final number amounting to 375 - nearly reaching the highest number of submissions received (400) on a County Galway planning application.
Complaints within the submissions centered around landowner consent, public consultation, environmental concerns, and property value.
In one submission a resident stated: “The planning application documentation does not demonstrate that a single, stable and sufficiently defined ‘Overall Project’ has been subjected to the environmental assessment relied upon in support of this application.”
“PCRE expressly identifies the proposed 220kV substation and associated grid infrastructure as an integral component of the Overall Project, while repeatedly stating that it has been assessed only ‘insofar as reasonably practicable’ on the information currently available.”
“The phrase ‘insofar as reasonably practicable’ appears 19 times across six lodged report,” they added. “In effect, Galway County Council is being asked to accept an incomplete assessment of the Overall Project through the repeated use of the same qualifying phrase across lodged documents.”
Another submission claimed that PCRE’s consultation on the project was “disingenuous at best” adding that “the planning application differs significantly from the proposal that was on display.”
While one land owner stated that their land is reflected as access points in the submitted plans though they did not give consent to PRCE. Furthermore, the landowner said in the submission that the agreement dated in early June was “significantly varied by the applicant, without prior consultation of [the landowner].” Landowner letters of consent are restricted from public viewing.
PCRE’s planning application did not include supporting documents for the future Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) and substation. According to the application, a separate submission to An Coimisiún Pleanála is expected for those elements.
PCRE previously said: “Any future planning applications for the BESS and substation will be subject to the applicable statutory planning process, including opportunities for public engagement, and PCRE will continue to engage with local residents and other interested stakeholders as those proposals progress.”
Submittted in August, the application seeks a 10-year planning permission for more than one million square metres of solar panels across 239 hectares in Abbeyknockmoy and Monivea areas, along with mounting poles and associated works.
The proposed development covers lands in the townlands of Lissaniska, Oakwood South, Cahernaglass, Ryehill Demesne, Carrowmore, Parkacurry, Killaclogher, Ballynaboorkagh, Cashlaundarragh, Corrafaireen, Shantallow, Carrowreagh East, Caherlissakill and Laragh Beg.
Galway County planning offices are expected to make a decision this October.