KCC Rules Proposed Maganey Solar Farm Application As Invalid

Locals had raised concerns about it's scale and potential impact on the community

A Maganey resident has welcomed Kildare County Council's decision to declare a first planning bid for a proposed solar farm in the area as invalid.

Locals met in September to discuss the proposed solar farm, citing concerns surrounding it's scale and potential impact on the community.

In June, residents were initially made aware of the development when planning permission was first sought.

BNRG are an Irish-owned renewable energy company seeking planning permission for the proposed 114-hectare solar farm, planned across lands in the townlands of Beaconstown, Johnstown North and South, Kilkea Upper and Crookett.

It is planned to have 105MW of solar generation on the site, as BNRG says it could power the equivalent of 14,000 homes and save an estimated 21,300 tonnes of carbon emissions annually.

The application was invalidated due to it being "incomplete", something that could have potential delays for the project.

In a letter from KCC, it said that the application didn't comply with the requirements of the Regulations and couldn't be considered by the Planning Authority as a result.

The main issues related to the environment and the Natura Impact Statement (NIS), which assesses the likely significant effects on certain nature conservation sites arising from a proposed development.

For future applications, a tree survey is required to assess the loss of hedgerows and trees, while also mentioning that a quantitative aspect of research would be needed to assess if there would be adverse affects on the River Barrow and River Nore, as well as existing qualitative data.

In addition, the council also cited insufficient "bird survey data", requiring two years of such information, as opposed to BNRG who have "relied on a single wintering bird survey season supplemented by two breeding-season surveys".

KCC asked for further applications to include reports relating to third party submissions, the impact on road networks and gas pipelines, as well as on Kilkea Castle as a protected structure.

Speaking on Kildare Today, co-founder of Crookett Art Residency and Art Space in Maganey Stephen Croncota said the news is welcome, but he isn't getting too ahead of himself:

"It has stalled it a little bit, but it doesn't necessarily mean permanently."

He said that the proposed solar farm would "diminish the experience" for artists at Crookett House, due to it's close proximity to it.

"It would literally surround our new art centre on three sides, we would be a little island in the middle of solar panels, which threw the whole art centre idea into jeopardy."

The issue has been ongoing, with local councillor Veralouise Behan calling for solar farms to be kept off agricultural lands, something Croncota agrees with:

"They [BNRG] could ideally find another part of Ireland that is more appropriate and isn't on the country's best farmlands, near private family homes, businesses and Kilkea castle, so we hoped we've impressed upon the county council that this is the wrong place [for a solar farm]."

Kfm News has contacted BNRG, asking if it intends to submit another planning application to Kildare County Council.

At time of publication, a response has not been received.

The full interview can be heard below: