Cork County Council grants permission for 3.8-hectare solar farm at Ballybeg and Turbeagh Mitchelstown, Co. Cork

In context

It is one of 52 solar farm applications Cork 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 14 January 2025. 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 Cork County Council register. This is the source for every figure in the story above.

Permission for a photovoltaic (Solar PV) energy generation scheme with a total area of 3.76ha within the townlands of Ballybeg and Turbeagh in Mitchelstown Co. Cork. The development will consist of the installation of 4,182 no. ground mounted Solar PV arrays, a 20kV substation, the installation of 120m of 20kV underground electrical cabling from the proposed substation to an existing pole and overhead line to connect to the national grid, the upgrade of an existing entrance off the local road to serve as a permanent site entrance for the solar farm and all associated site development works including upgrading 80m of existing tracks and installing 435m of new access track 3m wide and all associated site works. The applicant is seeking a 10-year planning permission and an operational period of 40 years.