Planning for a €1bn data centre and solar farm sited on 600 acres of tillage land in the midlands is being appealed to An Comisiún Pleanála by a group of concerned farmers.

Westmeath County Council granted planning permission to Red Admiral DC Limited last month for the project, despite considerable opposition from communities living in Rochfortbridge and the surrounding townlands of Collinstown, Farthingstown, Kiltotan and Oldtown.

Those objecting to the development say the loss of prime agricultural land, along with the impact the development will have on their farms and homes, makes the site wholly unsuitable.

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It’s been a divide-and-conquer approach, people who have grown up together are no longer speaking

Willie Carey, a suckler and dry stock farmer is one of 40 local residents who have lodged a joint submission to An Comisiún Pleanála.

Among their objections include the lack of consultation, the impact on wells servicing homes and farms, and flooding concerns in the region.

“It’s been a divide-and-conquer approach, people who have grown up together are no longer speaking,” he says.

The council will receive €8.24m in planning contributions towards public infrastructure along with a levy of almost €290,000 from the project.

This consultation process resulted in a number of changes to the design of the project

The 10-year planning grant includes 32 conditions, one of which requires Red Admiral to supply the authority with proof that energy consumed by the development is equal to that renewable electricity generated by the solar farm.

A spokesperson for Lumcloon Energy, the company behind Red Admiral Limited, told the Irish Farmers Journal that the company engaged in an ‘extensive consultation process with the local community’ in advance of lodging its planning application.

“This consultation process resulted in a number of changes to the design of the project and the solar farm boundary in response to feedback from neighbours and local groups.

“As the developer of the Red Admiral project, Lumcloon Energy will continue to engage with neighbours, local communities and key stakeholders throughout the development process.”