Donegal County Council grants permission for 3.9-hectare solar farm at ERRIGAL COLLEGE, WINDYHALL, Co. Donegal

In context

It is one of 9 solar farm applications Donegal County Council has received in the past twelve months, against 351 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 11 January 2024. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues.

The development description, as lodged

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

(1) DEMOLITION/REMOVAL OF THE EXISTING SCHOOL AND REMOVAL OF TEMPORARY BUILDINGS, (2) CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW PERMANENT 2-STOREY POST PRIMARY SCHOOL BUILDING FOR ERRIGAL COLLEGE (9,000 SQM NEW GROSS FLOOR AREA) WITH ASSOCIATED EXTERNAL SIGNAGE. THE CONSTITUENT ELEMENTS OF THE NEW SCHOOL COMPRISE: 27 GENERAL CLASSROOMS, 19 SPECIALIST CLASSROOMS, 2 SPECIAL NEEDS CLASSROOMS WITHIN A SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS SUITE, MP HALL AND ASSOCIATED PE ANCILLARY ACCOMMODATION, STAFFROOM, ADMINISTRATION ROOMS, TOILETS, STORES AND GENERAL ANCILLARY ACCOMMODATION AND A DOUBLE HEIGHT GENERAL PURPOSE ROOM WITH ASSOCIATED KITCHEN AND STORE, (3) EXTERNAL COVERED AREA AND EXTERNAL CONSTRUCTION STUDIES STORE, (4) SITE DEVELOPMENT WORKS INCLUDING REVISIONS TO VEHICULAR/PEDESTRIAN AND CYCLE ACCESS ARRANGEMENTS TO PROVIDE CAR AND BUS SET-DOWN SPACES INCLUDING 63 NO. STANDARD CAR PARKING SPACES FOR STAFF/VISITORS, 3 NO. UNIVERSALLY ACCESSIBLE PARKING SPACES, AREA FOR 90 NO. CYCLE PARKING SPACES AND VEHICULAR ENTRANCE/EXIT ONTO KILMACRENNAN ROAD, (5) 5 NO. HARD COURTS AND (6) A ROOF MOUNTED PHOTOVOLTAIC ARRAY. THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT ALSO INCLUDES HARD AND SOFT LANDSCAPING, GRASSED PLAY SPACE, OUTER ACITIVITY COURTYARDS, SEN GARDEN/PLAY SPACE, EXTERNAL GRASS PITCHES, ASSOCIATED SITE DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICE INFRASTRUCTURE WORKS