Roscrea solar farm plans revised and resubmitted

PLANS to construct a controversial solar farm near Roscrea have been changed after Tipperary County Council granted conditional planning permission for the project last year.

The solar farm, which would be accommodated on a massive 143 hectare site south-east  of Roscrea, is the subject of a revised planning application lodged with the local authority last month.

In April last year the council granted conditional planning to Monaincha Solar Park Ltd. for the development of the farm of photovoltaic panels located approximately one-and-a-half km from Knock village.

 The company applied for 10-year planning permission for the solar farm with a 40 year working life. 

Several objections were lodged by the local community, who argued the small rural area has already seen major developments, including the creation of the M7 motorway, the Monaincha wind turbine farm and two large telecommunications masts. Planning permission has also been granted for two other similar, but significantly smaller, solar farm developments with a combined footprint of 87.2 hectares, they pointed out.

Lack of consultation with the local community in the planning stages, concerns about noise pollution and the significant impact on a naturally beautiful area were also raised. 

Last month a new application was submitted to Tipperary County Council by a company named Soleire Renewables SPV Alpha 2 Ltd. with a revised version of the previous development. 

 The changes are to the configuration of the  rows and height and spacing of the Solar PV panels, with an increase in their solar output but a decrease in the number of panels. 

A Natura Impact Statement will also be submitted to the Planning Authority for the proposed development.  A decision is expected from the local authority by January 31.