Planning refused for battery storage facility in Dundalk

Louth County Council has refused planning permission for a new bbattery storage facility at Mullagharlin in Dundalk.

Ion Renewables Limited applied to Louth County Council in September 2023 for planning permission for the construction of a stationary battery storage facility comprising 84, 20ft containers and 14 average transformers tension in Mullagharlin, Dundalk.

The proposed development included the construction of a single-storey substation building and a reservoir to facilitate the transformer plant; together with a new internal access road to connect with the existing road network within the grounds of the Xerox Technology Park; and works associated with the site and development.

A decision on the development was due to be made last year but was put on hold following a request from Louth County Council for more information in relation to the development. On 15 August, the local authority received significant additional information including a revised Nature Impact Statement.

Louth County Council, included in its reasons for refusing planning permission, said that “significant development works, including the provision of a hard surface, have been carried out to provide for the carriageway near of a water course without the benefit of a planning permit. Therefore, the Planning Authority is prevented from considering the granting of authorization for the development of the matter in this case.”