Dale Farm Solar Farm

Installation and operation of a 4.9MWp solar farm and associated panels, mounting frames, 3 no. control rooms, fencing pole mounted security cameras, underground and over ground electricity cables.

The key beneficiary of this application is the Dale Farm Creamery at Dunmanbridge, which is the largest milk processing site in Northern Ireland. The intention of this renewable project is to enable Dale Farm to access a cheaper and more reliable source of power.

Issues Encountered

• Public safety, human health, or residential amenity from reflected sunlight
• Visual amenity and landscape character
• Biodiversity, nature conservation or built heritage interests
• Local nature resources
• Public access to the countryside

Our Involvement

We took forward Pre-Application Discussions with Mid Ulster Council and managed the application through to approval in January 2016 successfully demonstrating the wider environmental, social and economic benefits of the proposal as well as its compliance with the criteria within PPS 18.

Councillors in the Cookstown DEA were also briefed given the signifcance of the project for a major local business.