An Bord Pleanala upholds planning for battery storage in North Leitrim

An Bord Pleanala has upheld Leitrim County Council's decision to grant planning permission for the installation of battery arrays located within 16 container unit at Corderry.

The original planning application brought by Brookfield Renewable Ireland Ltd to build the battery storage facility including control building, transformer, fencing, internal access road and drainage. was granted by the local authority in December 2020.
Eight local objections had been lodged against the application.

Tracey McNamara on behalf of the residents of ED Belhavel appealed the council's decision to An Bord Pleanala last January.
The site is located approximately 1.3 km south-west of Belhavel Lough, is greenfield in nature and is marshy with a low hedge demarcating the site boundary adjacent to the public road.

Concerns from residents ranged from fire risk, environmental factors, the scale of the building and risk of oil leakage among other issues.

An Bord Pleanala upheld the council's decision to grant planning permission along with ten conditions.
The planning board commented that the application was compliant with laws and standards and would not seriously injure the visual amenities of the area or have a significant negative impact on the landscape, or seriously injure the residential amenity.
They also said the development would not give rise to a risk of pollution, would not give rise to a significant fire hazard or risk of explosion.”

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