Cork County Council grants permission for solar farm at Ballinrea Carrigaline Co.Cork, Co. Cork

In context

It is one of 52 solar farm applications Cork County Council has received in the past twelve months, against 337 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 9 February 2026. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues.

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 the construction of the proposed development on agricultural land will comprise of the following; A Battery Energy Storage System with associated infrastructure including a new internal access road approximately 0.8km in length , a 1.6km 33kV double circuit underground cable grid connection to be permitted Ballinrea Solar Farm 110kV substation (Planning ref ABP-317706), to be installed in an excavated trench including underground ducting; modular office and welfare buildings, three steel storage containers and all associated site development and reinstatement works