413 acre solar farm in Louth gets go ahead in spite of massive opposition

Louth County Council has granted planning permission for a solar farm on a site of around 167 hectares (412.6 acres) in mid-Louth, in spite of a huge number of submissions made objecting to the development.

Knockdinnin Solar Farm Limited was given the go ahead for the development at Dromin, Knockatober, Cangy, Mooremount, Richardstown (ED Stabannan), Painestown, Ballymageragh and Knockdinnin, County Louth, consisting of the construction of a solar PV development and Battery Energy Storage System facility (BESS).

The development comprises solar PV panels laid out in arrays across the site on ground mounted frames, with string inverters attached to selected ground mounted frames, and would include 12 transformer units. The BESS facility would consist of 368 BESS modules; one transformer unit; eight power electronic compact twin skids; a control unit circa 12m2; and 2m high landscaping berm; and perimeter security fencing, 2.4m high.

The application also provided for electrical and communications cabling within private lands and within the L2254, R170 and R211/R132 public roads; pole-mounted security cameras; perimeter security fencing (2m high) and security gates.

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It also included the upgrade of three existing site entrances; the development of the new site entrances; three temporary construction compounds; three clear span bridges; internal access tracks; and all associated ancillary development, landscaping and reinstatement works.

A decision had initially been due on the planning application last June, with the application having been made in April 2025, but Louth County Council sought further information on the planned development in June, which was subsequently submitted to the local Planning Authority in October 2025.

Submissions objecting to the development were made on the original application as well as on the further information submitted. Reasons for objecting included: the impact on wildlife, loss of agricultural land, impact on community and family life, and the size of the development.

Louth County Council granted planning permission for the solar farm to go ahead on 26 January, subject to planning conditions.