Clare County Council grants permission for 2.3-hectare solar farm at Smithstown Industrial Estate, Shannon, Co. Clare

In context

It is one of 9 solar farm applications Clare 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 10 September 2025. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues.

The development description, as lodged

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

for development which will consist of permission for 1.) a new 2 storey office building with ancillary laboratories, canteen, gymnasium, meeting rooms and reception of 2250.5 sqm, 2.) a new single storey, double height truck maintenance shed of 587.4 sqm 3.) associated parking spaces including 101 no. car parking spaces, 3 no. van parking spaces and 30 no. secure bicycle parking spaces, 4.) solar photovoltaic panels at roof level to office building, 5.) alterations to the use of and modifications to the previously permitted entrance (Planning Reference No. P18/1010), 6.) internal road layout, landscaping, external lighting and boundary treatment, 7.) new surface water attenuation area, 8.) New foul water drainage pipework and pump station to service the new office building and maintenance shed connecting to the existing site infrastructure and discharging to the public network via the existing site connection 9.) new concrete dry storage area of 2194 sqm with associated surface water attenuation, 10.) new pedestrian entrance gate and sheltered waiting area, 11.) building signage and all ancillary site works above and below ground. The proposed development site is controlled by an Industrial Emissions Licence (Register No. P0076-01) authorised by the Environmental Protection Agency