Dublin City Council grants permission for 2.7-hectare solar farm at Grange Community College, Grange Abbey Road, Dublin

In context

It is one of 32 solar farm applications Dublin City Council has received in the past twelve months, against 349 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 3 November 2023. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues.

The development description, as lodged

Verbatim from the Dublin City Council register. This is the source for every figure in the story above.

Planning permission for construction of a two storey post primary school building (6,966 sq.m gross floor area) with associated external signage for Gaelcholaiste Reachrann, Grange, Donaghmede. The development will consist of a new school building: (a) a two storey 38 no. classroom building including general classrooms, engineering, construction & technology studies, multimedia, art, textiles, home economics and science rooms and 3 no. pastoral offices, (b) two storey general purpose element including assembly/dining area, administration offices and meeting room at ground floor, staff room, library and music room at first floor, (c) double height multi-use hall, (for school and community use) with associated changing/storage/toilet/fitness room & ancillary areas at ground floor, (d) Installation of a 333 sq. metre PV Array composed of 208 no. standard 1.6 sq. metre photovoltaic panels, each with an output of 250 watts, to be laid parallel to the pitch on an east facing roof, (e)Site development works including new (i) campus vehicular/pedestrian & cycle infrastructure, car and bus set-down spaces, (ii) 38 no. standard car parking spaces, 3 no. universally accessible parking spaces and 200 no. cycle parking spaces, (iii) 4 no. outdoor hard play courts, (iv) external store (50 sq. m.) with external covered area (30 sq.m.) ESB substation (23.5 sq. m.) opening onto Grange Abbey Road. The proposed development also includes removal of existing Gaelcholaiste Reachrann temporary accommodation buildings at the rear of Grange Community College and replacement with 3 no. hard play courts, hard and soft landscaping (including boundary treatments, school garden and site attenuation) and associated site development and services works all on site at Grange Community College.