Solar farm of 57 hectares approved for mid-Kerry despite objections

By Alastair Tibbs, The Kerryman

Kerry County Council has granted planning permission for a significant solar farm in mid-Kerry, despite a litany of objections.

Planning for a roughly 57-hectare farm has been granted to Laurel Ridge Solar Farm Ltd on a site near Milltown.

The development consists of 230,000 square metres of solar photovoltaic panels on ground mounted frames, 14 single storey transformer stations, a 38kV substation and associated electrical compound and an energy storage compound with 36 storage modules.

It spans across the townlands of Ballyoughtragh South, Commons Farranmanagh, Knocknaman and Lisheennashingane.

Planning permission will last 10 years, with an operational lifespan of 40 years.

Extensive works will be carried out on the public roads, including the L11003, L8003 and L80030, to install 33kV underground electric cabling.

A total of 25 submissions are listed on Kerry County Council’s planning portal.

Objections to the development centred around traffic and road safety concerns during the construction phase, as well as noise disturbance to locals and livestock, and impacts on the environment and landscape.

The benefit to the local area was also questioned, and the precedent this might set for the presence of industrial energy projects in rural areas of the county.

An environmental impact assessment on the project said the construction phase would have a ‘not significant’ impact on the main nearby waterway, the Kealbrogreen Stream.

It states that operational effects will be ‘imperceptible’ and ‘potentially slightly positive’ on water quality and downstream aquatic habitats for fish and macroinvertebrates.

Hedgerow coverage is set to be increased under the plan, with 553m of new hedgerows to be planted while 178m is cut down.

“The successful implementation and establishment of landscaping proposals for this development will result in a positive impact over the short to medium term,” the report reads.

The glint and glare assessment found that there will ‘not be any significant’ nuisance effects from glint and glare within the site or any hazardous effects on road users driving nearby roadways.

The fire safety report for the application concludes that the fire hazards associated with the development will be adequately mitigated.

“While the risk of fire occurring on a solar farm and ESS site cannot be completely eliminated, the levels of mitigation and the controls that are included provide a level of safety that reduces the potential for outbreak of a fire to a level that would considered as low as is reasonable practicable,” it reads.