Planning documents
A short guide to the official application documents. Read the applicant’s account alongside the plans, and check the pages behind any claim.
Open the complete Council file
Read letters about the application
Go straight to: traffic and access · drainage and flooding · protected sites · glint and glare · archaeology · cables and substation · pre-planning minutes.
Application documents
Planning Statement (PDF)
Start with the applicant’s account of the proposal and its planning context. Read it alongside the drawings and supporting reports.
Site Location Map — Overview (PDF)
Find the two land parcels and the application boundary. The full sheet includes the applicant’s legend and site notice locations.
Site Layout Plan — Overview (PDF)
See how the proposed panels, tracks and associated equipment are arranged across the site. The full Council file also contains the detailed layout sheets.
Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (PDF)
Read the applicant’s assessment of the landscape, views and proposed mitigation, with its maps and viewpoint material.
Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA) (PDF)
Read the applicant’s ecological assessment and proposed measures. Listed as “EcIA” in the Council file.
Glint and Glare Report (PDF)
The applicant’s assessment of reflected sunlight, covering roads, homes and aviation. The appendices below compare panel angles and screening, and show predicted glare periods. Read the report’s assumptions and mitigation alongside its results.
- Appendix A — comparative tilt results for dwellings (PDF)
- Appendix B — comparative tilt results for roads (PDF)
- Appendix C — dwelling glare periods, part 1 (PDF)
- Appendix C — dwelling glare periods, part 2 (PDF)
- Appendix C — dwelling glare periods, part 3 (PDF)
- Appendix C — dwelling glare periods, part 4 (PDF)
- Appendix D — road glare periods (PDF)
Construction Traffic Management Plan (CTMP) (PDF)
The applicant’s proposed delivery routes, construction traffic, site access and traffic-management measures. Section 3 describes the routes; Appendix A contains the access drawings.
Site entrances and cable-construction access drawings (PDF)
Appendix A shows sightlines at the N83 and L21332 solar-farm entrances, separate R354 cable-construction access, and vehicle turning diagrams. Read the drawing titles and legends to distinguish each purpose.
Construction and Environmental Management Plan (PDF)
The applicant’s arrangements for managing construction, environmental controls and site works. The report covers the solar farm and the wider substation/grid project; the latter requires a separate application.
Surface Water Management Plan (PDF)
The applicant’s drainage strategy, runoff calculations and proposed surface-water measures, with supporting drawings and calculations.
Site Specific Flood Risk Assessment (PDF)
The applicant’s assessment of flood sources, site conditions and flood-risk management. Read its maps, assumptions and proposed measures together.
Natura Impact Statement (NIS) (PDF)
Information supplied for the Council’s Appropriate Assessment of potential effects on protected European sites. This is the applicant’s report; the planning authority makes the assessment.
Archaeological Impact Assessment (PDF)
The applicant’s archaeological and cultural-heritage study, including the site context, assessment and proposed mitigation.
Geophysical Survey Report (PDF)
The specialist survey of the site’s subsurface features, with survey areas, interpretation and results. Read alongside the archaeological assessment.
Electrical layout — cables and proposed substation (PDF)
Shows the proposed 33 kV cable network, solar parcels and wider grid infrastructure. The substation and grid-connection details are supplied for information and are outside the Council solar-farm application.
Council decisions and correspondence
Blackthorn pre-planning meeting minutes — 26 August 2026 (PDF)
The Council’s published record of the pre-planning meeting with the applicant’s representatives. It records matters discussed before the application; it is not a decision granting permission.
Bellville Solar Farm refusal — a separate application (PDF)
The signed decision and eleven refusal grounds for Bellville near Monivea and Abbeyknockmoy. This decision is appealable and does not determine the outcome of Blackthorn application 26/61567.