Permission denied for 442ac east Cork solar farm

Cork County Council has denied permission for a major solar farm in east Cork.

Developer Ballysallagh Solar Farm Limited had applied for a 10-year planning permission for a solar farm with a total area of 442ac in east Cork.

The proposed solar farm spanned multiple farms and townlands, including Ballysallagh, Dundullerick east, Dundullerick west and Rathcobane.

If granted, the operational lifespan of the solar farm would have been 40 years.

The application received a significant number of objections, and on 1 September, the project was refused permission.

Hotspot

However, at the time of writing this article, the reasons why the development was denied are not yet clear. Cork has emerged as a hotspot for solar farm development, due in part to good electricity networks, high demand, high sunshine levels, and, in certain parts, flat, well-drained land.