Planning sought for new solar farm near Ballynacargy

Planning permission has been lodged for a solar farm outside Ballynacargy.

The planning application submitted by Harmony Solar Kildallan Ltd includes details for the construction of a solar farm on a 140-acre site approximately 1.3km east of Ballynacargy and 9.7km north west of Mullingar.

The site of the proposed development is located on three parcels of land within the townlands of Toor Commons, Ballysallagh (Fox), Ballyhug, Ballysallagh (Tuite), Ballyhoreen, Kill, Balroe, Cartron, Grange, Kildallan North, Kildallan, Parcellstown, Slane More and Walshestown South.

If given the go-ahead by Westmeath County Council, the development will consist 781,578sqm of solar photovoltaic panels, 3,400 sqm of new hedgerow and as 5.3km of new access tracks.

The application also includes details for a 10.4km underground cable route along local public roads from the proposed development to infrastructure within the Clondaris solar farm, which Harmony Solar was granted planning permission for in 2018.

The site of Clondaris solar farm is approximately 4km from Mullingar and 10km for Ballynacargy.

If given the green light, Harmony Solar say that due to advancements in solar panel technology, the solar farm will be operational for 40 years.

In a letter to Westmeath County Council, Gravis Planning, acting on behalf of Harmony Solar Ltd, said that “to achieve Ireland’s ambitious renewable energy targets there is a clear need for projects such as this”.

In recent years Harmony Solar have secured planning permission for solar farms in counties Clare, Kildare, Kilkenny, Longford, Louth, Meath, Westmeath and Wexford.

The decision due date for the proposed development is April 18.