Larry Goodman farm lodges appeal against 268 acre solar farm in mid-Louth

Braganstown Farms Unlimited Company, a Larry Goodman controlled firm, is among the appellants listed in an appeal against Louth County Council's decision to permit a solar farm on a site of c.108.6 ha (268.4 acres), just under five kilometres from Ardee.

Louth County Council granted planning permission in January to Lightsource Renewable Energy Ireland Ltd, which is owned by British multinational oil and gas company, BP, for the development, on lands c.4.87km northeast of Ardee, Derrycammagh and Bawn, Co Louth.

The applicant sought permission for a development consisting of a 10 year permission for a solar PV energy development with associated Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) compound with a total site area of c. 108.6 ha (268.4 acres).

The proposed development included solar panels mounted on steel support structures, associated cabling and ducting, inverters, transformers, switchgear substations, auxiliary transformer, permanent storage containers, monitoring houses, composting toilet, BESS customer substation, battery blocks, BESS inverters and Power Conversion System (PCS) twin skid, BESS interface cabinets (BIC), and backup generator.

The planning application also provided for temporary construction compounds, tracks, boundary security fencing and security gates, CCTV, landscaping and ancillary works including a sheep pen, with a 40 year operational period.

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Construction access to the development was proposed via an upgraded and widened access point off the R166, together with a newly created access and a widened existing access off Derrycammagh Lane (south off L51774). Operation and maintenance of the development was proposed from an existing access point off Derrycammagh Lane, south of the L51774 local road.

A Natura Impact Statement (NIS) had been submitted by Lightsource Renewable Energy Ireland Ltd to the Planning Authority with the application.

Submissions were made by many in relation to the development, on both the application and in relation to the further information submitted by Lightsource Renewable Energy Ireland Ltd. Loss of agricultural land, visual impact, additional traffic during construction were among the issues highlighted.

Mid-Louth councillors, Cllr Pearse McGeough, Cllr John Sheridan, Cllr Jim Tenanty, and Drogheda councillor, Cllr Kevin Callan were among those who made submissions.

Louth County Council granted planning permission for the development on 16 January, subject to 22 planning conditions, saying that “the development shall be carried out in strict accordance with the plans and specifications submitted to the Planning Authority on 19th December 2024 and as amended by plans, details and specifications received as further information on 19th November 2025”, save for the 22 conditions it laid out in its decision.

A third party appeal against the decision was lodged with An Bord Coimisiún on 10 February, according to information on the planning authority's website. The third party appellants listed in the appeal are: Braganstown Farms Unlimited Company; Stephen O'Neill; Victoria Murray & Others; Breige & Barney O'Neill & Others; L.P. Goodman; Kevin & Sarah Sweeny.

Lightsource Renewable Energy Ireland Ltd is also listed as a first party appellant.

It is not yet clear when the case will be heard but information on the Louth County Council online planning portal, says the submissions due date on the appeal is 12 March 2026.