Tipperary County Council's decision to refuse permission for a 9.4 hectacre solar farm near Ardfinnan has been reversed by An Bord Pleanala.
The County Council rejected the planning application in July last year because they felt it would be detrimental to local residential amenities due to its scale and proximity to rural houses and pose a potential traffic hazard, as it would increase traffic on a sub-standard road.
The application attracted a number of submissions from local residents opposed to the plans.
However, the planning appeals board, An Bord Pleanala, has now overturned Tipperary County Council's decision in relation to Premier Solar Ltd's proposed solar farm development at Magherareagh, north west of Ardfinnan village.
CONDITIONS
It has granted permission for the solar farm of ground mounted solar panels and associated facilities to be built on the site subject to nine conditions.
The permission is granted for 25 years from the date of commissioning of the solar panels.
After re-examining the application, an inspector for An Bord Pleanala recommended the project be granted permission as he considered that, subject to compliance with the conditions he set out, the solar farm would "not seriously injure" the visual or residential amenities of the area, would be acceptable in terms of traffic safety and would not negatively impact on the ecology or cultural heritage. He also considered it would not be prejudicial to public health.
