4.7-hectare solar farm proposed at KNOCKNAMONA AND CARNAMOGAGH LOWER, LETTERKENNY, 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

Anyone can make a submission or observation to Donegal County Council until 4 October 2026, for a fee of €20. Only those who make a submission can later appeal the decision. The council is due to decide by 25 October 2026, unless it requests further information, which stops the clock.

How to make a submission

The development description, as lodged

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

A NEW VETERINARY TEACHING FACILITY CONSISTING OF (1) CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW VETERINARY TEACHING FACILITY, RANGING IN HEIGHT FROM ONE TO TWO STOREYS WITH PITCHED ROOF, COMPRISING: (A) A SMALL AND LARGE ANIMAL HOSPITAL BUILDING, EQUINE BUILDING, EQUINE ISOLATION BUILDING, FARM ANIMAL BUILDING, PATHOLOGY BUILDING, AND AN EQUINE MRI UNIT, (B) ROOF MOUNTED SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC PANELS AND ASSOCIATED MECHANICAL AND PLANT ROOMS AND (C) OUTDOOR FACILITIES INCLUDING A LARGE ANIMAL YARD, LUNGE PEN, TURN-OUT AREA, FENCED PADDOCKS, PATHOLOGY YARD, WASTE COMPOUND, EQUINE LOADING AND UNLOADING FACILITIES, AND EQUINE ARENA, (2) PROVISION OF LANDSCAPING AND PUBLIC REALM WORKS, INCLUDING SUDS, WILDFLOWER MEADOWS, NATIVE WOODLAND PLANTING, EXTENSION OF THE WOODLAND PATH WITHIN THE APPROVED ATU REGIONAL SPORTS CAMPUS, INTERNAL PEDESTRIAN/CYCLE PATHS, INVASIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT BUND, AND GRASSED LANDSCAPING. THE PROPOSED LANDSCAPING PROVIDES A RESERVATION FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE N56 AND, IN LINE WITH THE KNOCKNAMONA MASTERPLAN, FOR POTENTIAL FUTURE EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS ON THE SUBJECT SITE, (3) PROVISION OF A NEW VEHICULAR AND ACTIVE TRAVEL ACCESS AND INTERNAL ROAD NETWORK TO CONNECT THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT TO THE APPROVED ATU REGIONAL SPORTS CAMPUS (PLANNING REF. NO. 23/50913; ACP-319620 REFERS), INCLUDING: (A) A CROSSING OF THE EXISTING KNOCKNAMONA STREAM AND INSTALLATION OF A BOX CULVERT WITH SPAWNING GRAVEL AND (B) MINOR AMENDMENTS TO AND WORKS WITHIN THE SPORTS CAMPUS TO FACILITATE CONNECTION TO ITS APPROVED ROAD LAYOUT, (4) PROVISION OF A NEW ACTIVE TRAVEL ENTRANCE FROM THE N56, INCLUDING STEPPED AND ACCESSIBLE RAMPED ACCESSES, TOGETHER WITH ENHANCED PUBLIC REALM AND LANDSCAPING FRONTING ONTO THE N56, (5) PROVISION OF 69 NO. CAR PARKING SPACES FOR STAFF, STUDENTS AND VISITORS (INCLUDING 4 NO. ACCESSIBLE SPACES AND 7 NO. ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING SPACES), TOGETHER WITH 2 NO. TRUCK LAY-BYS, 15 NO. SHELTERED CYCLE PARKING SPACES AND 3 NO. VEHICLE-AND-TRAILER PARKING SPACES AND (6) ALL ASSOCIATED AND ANCILLARY SITE DEVELOPMENT WORKS, INCLUDING EARTHWORKS AND SITE GRADING, SITE WALLS AND BOUNDARY TREATMENTS, DRAINAGE AND ATTENUATION INFRASTRUCTURE, WASTEWATER AND WATER CONNECTIONS, SURFACE WATER CONNECTIONS INCLUDING AN OUTFALL TO THE KNOCKNAMONA STREAM, PUBLIC LIGHTING, FIREFIGHTING WATER TANK, OVERGROUND EFFLUENT TANK, UTILITIES AND SIGNAGE. A NATURA IMPACT STATEMENT (NIS) ACCOMPANIES THIS APPLICATION