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

An Coimisiún Pleanála has given the go ahead for a 268 acre solar farm in mid-Louth, following an appeal against Louth County Council’s decision to grant planning permission in January of this year, by Braganstown Farms Unlimited Company, a Larry Goodman controlled firm, and a number of other appellants.

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.

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 were: 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.

An Coimisiún Pleanála made the decision to grant planning permission for the solar farm to go ahead on 3 November, subject to 26 planning conditions.

Included in its Direction in relation to its decision, An Coimisiún Pleanála said that: “the Commission was satisfied that the proposed development would not adversely affect the integrity of the Stabannan-Braganstown SPA (Site CodeC)04091), Dundalk Bay SAC (Site Code 000455), Dundalk Bay SPA (Site Code 004026), North-west Irish Sea SPA (Site Code 004236) in view of the site’s Conservation Objectives and there is no reasonable scientific doubt as to the absence of such effects.”