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Townlands of Bigbog Coolnabacky Esker Money Lower and Loughteeog , Stradbally , Co. Laois

CONDITIONAL

Planning application 2560237

Laois - Laois County Council

Proposed Development

amend the solar farm permitted under Laois County Council Reg. Ref. 17/532 and consists of a revised solar PV panel arrangement and maximum height of panels up to 3.2 metres; a reconfigured internal access route network; reduced number of MV transformers; provision of string inverters; revised CCTV arrangement; a spare parts storage container; weather stations; monitoring house; toilet facilities; and all other ancillary works associated with the development above and below ground including security fencing and gates, cabling, landscaping and drainage works. It is sought to increase the maximum export capacity of the solar farm to 80 MW and to increase the operational life of the solar farm from 30 to 40 years from the date of commissioning. A Natura Impact Statement (NIS) will be submitted to the Planning Authority with the application.

View the full application file on the council's planning portal →

Application Timeline

  1. Application received

    23 Apr 2025

  2. Decision: CONDITIONAL

    16 Jun 2025

  3. Decision due

    17 Jun 2025

  4. Grant issued

    21 Jul 2025

Application Details

Location
Townlands of Bigbog Coolnabacky Esker Money Lower and Loughteeog , Stradbally , Co. Laois.
Applicant
N/A
Application Type
PERMISSION
Planning Authority
Laois County Council
Site Area
141.5 ha

Timeline

Registration Date
23 April 2025
Status
APPLICATION FINALISED
Decision
CONDITIONAL
Decision Date
16 June 2025
Grant Date
21 July 2025
Permission Expires
7 January 2030

Location

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Planning Applications Nearby

What the council has granted and refused around this site is the best guide to how a similar application will fare.

132m
17532CONDITIONAL2 Oct 2017

construction operation and decommissioning of a photovoltaic solar farm comprising photovoltaic panels on ground mounted frames, inverter stations, 1 no DNO/ Customer substation, switchgear substations, field transformers, auxiliary transformers, GRP cabinet, monitoring house communications building, single storey storage shed, battery containers, transformer containers, WC, fencing, temporary construction compound, access tracks, cabling, CCTV cameras, landscaping, creation of a new access and all associated ancillary development works.

Bigbog Coolnabacky Esker Money Lower and Loughteeog , Stradbally , Co.Laois.

317m
2360557N/A20 Dec 2023

Proposed amendments to planning permission Reg. Ref. 17532 to consist of: Replacement of permitted Distribution Network Operator (DNO) 110kV substation and all associated infrastructure (Glass Reinforced Polyester (GRP) Cabinet, monitoring house, storage shed, auxiliary transformer and WC) with an Air Insulation Switchgear (AIS) 110kV substation comprising a single-storey control building (c. 6.28m height and c. 133.7sqm) within a palisade-fenced compound (c. 2.6m height and c. 1,779.8sq.m) and all associated electrical infrastructure and apparatus, and realignment of permitted solar arrays. The proposed development will consist of: Construction of a new vehicular entrance and access track connecting to permitted internal vehicular tracks; Construction of an underground cable (c. 160m length) to provide a tail fed connection to the permitted 400kV Coolnabacky substation (An Bord Pleanála Case Ref. PL11.VA0015); and, All ancillary site development works, including lighting, drainage, temporary construction compound and on-site parking to serve the operational and maintenance needs of the substation. A Natura Impact Statement (NIS) will be submitted to the planning authority with the application.

Bigbog Coolnabacky Esker , Money Lower Loughteeog , Stradbally Co Laois

317m
2460005CONDITIONAL3 Jan 2024

amend planning permission Reg. Ref. 17532 to consist of: Replacement of permitted Distribution Network Operator (DNO) 110kV substation and all associated infrastructure (Glass Reinforced Polyester (GRP) Cabinet, monitoring house, storage shed, auxiliary transformer and WC) with an Air Insulation Switchgear (AIS) 110kV substation comprising a single-storey control building (c. 6.28m height and c. 133.7sqm) within a palisade-fenced compound (c. 2.6m height and c. 1,779.8sq.m) and all associated electrical infrastructure and apparatus, and realignment of permitted solar arrays. The proposed development will consist of: Construction of a new vehicular entrance and access track connecting to permitted internal vehicular tracks; Construction of an underground cable (c. 160m length) to provide a tail fed connection to the permitted 400kV Coolnabacky substation (An Bord Pleanála Case Ref. PL11.VA0015); and, All ancillary site development works, including lighting, drainage, temporary construction compound and on-site parking to serve the operational and maintenance needs of the substation. A Natura Impact Statement (NIS) will be submitted to the planning authority with the application.

Bigbog Coolnabacky Esker , Money Lower Loughteeog , Stradbally Co Laois

909m
20641CONDITIONAL4 Dec 2020

construct new dwelling house and garage, new site entrance, new treatment system with polishing filter and all associated site works

Bigbog , Stradbally , Co. Laois

964m
19490CONDITIONAL27 Aug 2019

construct a new dwelling house, domestic garage, septic tank, percolation area, new bored well and new site entrance

Loughteague , Stradbally , Co. Laois

971m
19292CONDITIONAL27 May 2019

construct a new dwelling house and garage, septic tank and percolation area, site access via existing laneway and all associated site works

Esker , Timahoe , Co.Laois

1.0km
24149UNCONDITIONAL14 Nov 2024

extend time on planning permission 19/490

Lougteague , Stradbally , Co. Laois

1.0km
2461CONDITIONAL2 May 2024

construct extension to existing livestock shed to accommodate the following: 2 no. robot milking units; slatted tank capacity 523 cu m; cubicles, calving/separating area; compressor room, store room; install cubicles and dairy area in existing shed; widen existing entrance by 8.0 m to the southwest side of existing entrance and all associated site works

Carrigeen , Timahoe , Co. Laois

1.3km
22158CONDITIONAL21 Mar 2022

to construct new dwelling house and garage, septic tank with percolation area, new site entrance and all associated site works

Coolnabacca , Stradbally , Co.Laois

1.3km
20200CONDITIONAL22 Apr 2020

erect dwelling house, garage, septic tank, percolation area and entrance

Carrigeen , Timahoe , Co. Laois

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