Clare County Council refuses permission for 4.6-hectare solar farm at Kilkee, Co. Clare

In context

It is one of 8 solar farm applications Clare County Council has received in the past twelve months, against 333 nationally. Of the 572 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 16 October 2024. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues. The applicant sought a 10-year permission, which sets how long they have to start the development.

The development description, as lodged

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

to apply for a 10-year permission for development at these sites (c.4.56ha combined total) in the townlands of Kilkee Lower and Foohagh, Kilkee, Co. Clare (no Eircode available); comprising two areas of land principally bound: Subject Site (A) to the north by residential dwellings at Victoria Park and Páirc na mBláth, to the south by agricultural land and residential dwellings at Victoria Park, to the east by Victoria Stream and residential dwellings at Victoria Park, and to the west by Haugh Mobile Park and residential dwellings at Páirc na mBláth (c.1.05a); Subject Site (B) to the north by agricultural land and the Dunlicky Road beyond, to the east by an un-named access road and agricultural land, to the south by agricultural land and a residential dwelling beyond, and to the west by agricultural land – this site also includes a section of the Dunlicky Road that is within the Foohagh Townland (c.3.51ha). The development will consist of: [1] The construction of a new Foul Pumping Station (PS) at Subject Site (A) comprising of: an emergency storage tank; surge kiosk; washwater kiosk; odour control building; control panel kiosk; standby generator; foul pumping station; petrol interceptor; potable water / break tank kiosk; gantry's for pump and cleaning system removal; installation of underground internal site pipework including surface water drainage and petrol interceptor; ESB building and Panel Room (c.36.2sq.m. GFA); 2.4m high wire mesh security boundary fence; replacement of existing chainlink fence; safety bollards; new signage; an access gate; temporary construction access including the demolition and reinstatement of a boundary wall at the existing Victoria PS site; temporary works area; permanent access off Victoria Park; and all hard and soft landscaping including screen planting. [2] The construction of a new Wastewater Treatment Plant (WwTP) at Subject Site (B) comprising of: 2 no. primary settlement tanks; MCC kiosk; outfall pumping station; picket fence thickener; return liquors pumping station; sludge / scum pumping station; odour control plinth; inlet works and grit chamber; potable water break tank booster set kiosk; storm holding tank; storm return pumping station; excess FFT chamber; FFT flow measurement chamber; PST flow splitting chamber; gantrys for pump and cleaning system removal; a control building (c.102.5sq.m. GFA); ESB building (c.36.2sq.m. GFA); standby generator and fuel tank; solar panels (c.250sq.m. area / c.3.5m high); ins