A 161-hectare solar farm is approved across 14 townlands in the Lee Valley west of Cork city. Aglish Solar Farm Limited sought a 10-year planning permission in 2025 for solar panels on six parcels of land on the southern side of the River Lee/Inniscarra Reservoir, about 25 km west of Cork city. The proposal would generate enough electricity to power almost 49,000 homes and has an operational lifespan of 40 years. Cork County Council refused permission in July, citing insufficient archaeological investigations to preserve in-situ archaeological features and protect heritage. The area contains standing stones, fulacht fiadh, and other archaeological objects. ACP granted permission, ruling there would be no adverse impact on cultural or archaeological heritage, and imposed 21 conditions including an archaeological impact assessment before groundworks and a management plan to preserve and protect archaeological objects.
"The local authority refused planning permission in July last year, stating that "the applicant has not demonstrated that sufficient archaeological investigations have been undertaken to guide the proposed development towards preserving in-situ potential archaeological features and thereby safeguarding archaeological heritage." The general area features a number of standing stones, fulacht fiadh (Bronze Age cooking pits) and other objects of archaeological interest."
""The proposed development would therefore contravene County Development Plan Objectives HE 16-9 and HE 16-13, would seriously injure the amenities of property in the vicinity, and would set an undesirable precedent if granted permission. The proposed development is therefore contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area," the council's decision said."
"The ACP inspector ruled that the proposed development "would not have an adverse impact on the cultural or archaeological heritage of the site and surrounding area." The 21 conditions imposed by the ACP include that the developer will engage an archaeologist to carry out an archaeological impact assessment before any groundworks and will draw up a management plan to preserve and protect object"
Read at Irish Independent
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