Cavan County Council grants permission for 3.2-hectare solar farm at Bailieborough Wastewater Treatment Plant, Shercock Road Beckscourt Bailieborough, Co. Cavan

In context

It is one of 5 solar farm applications Cavan County Council has received in the past twelve months, against 335 nationally. Of the 573 such applications decided by councils in the past three years, 92% were granted.

What happens next

The applicant, or anyone who made a submission on the application, can appeal the decision to An Coimisiún Pleanála within four weeks of 28 August 2025. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues.

The development description, as lodged

Verbatim from the Cavan County Council register. This is the source for every figure in the story above.

for a 10-year duration planning permission is sought for works to upgrade the Bailieborough Wastewater Treatment Plant in the townland of Beckscourt, Bailieborough Co. Cavan. The proposed development consists of upgrades to the capacity of the existing WwTP. The proposed development consists of the following elements: (i) Demolition and replacement of existing Inlet works; (ii) SWO outfall from existing Storm Water Tank to be decommissioned; (iii) Proposed Dual Function Overflow outfall pipe connection from the WwTP inlet works to an existing drainage culvert pipeline; (iv) Provision of 1 no. new Storm Water Storage Holding Tank and associated SWO outfall pipe connection to the existing drainage culvert pipeline; (v) Provision of 1 no. aeration tank and 2 no. settlement tanks; (vi) Demolition of the existing oxidation ditch and clarifiers; (vii) Provision of below and above ground chambers (pump chambers and process drainage); (viii) Provision of service water pump sump (wash water recycle system to clean equipment); (ix) Provision of new WwTP Primary Discharge outfall pipe connection to the existing drainage culvert pipeline; (x) Provision of 1 no. picket fence thickener and mechanical dewatering unit; (xi) Provision of chemical storage and dosing equipment for alkalinity boosting, phosphorus removal and sludge treatment; (xii) Provision of 1 no. building (Sludge dewatering building) of operating equipment and 2 no. of kiosks (Intake MCC Kiosk and Aeration Tanks MCC Kiosk); (xiii) Provision of odour control unit and associated above ground ductwork; (xiv) Provision of a back-up generator with diesel tank to be used in an emergency/power cut; (xv) Provision of an ESB substation; (xvi) Demolition of the existing tanks not used in the future design (i.e., inlet works, storm tank, oxidation ditch, circular clarifier and drainage/process pump sumps, polymer preparation building, sludge blanket thickener, sludge holding tank, scum chamber and sludge dewatering kiosk); (xvii) Extension of internal access road and provision of turning head to the northern end of the site; (xviii). Ancillary and associated development including: a) Equipment lifting gantries, access platforms; b) Provision of paved/pebble area within the site; c) Landscaping works d) Replacement of site fence; e) Mechanical and electrical service connections; (xix) Installation of south facing Solar PV Panels; (xx) Retaining wall to the northern part of the site and entrance of the site. A Natura