Dublin City Council grants permission for 1,534.5-hectare solar farm at 3, Grand Canal Quay, Dublin

In context

It is one of 32 solar farm applications Dublin City 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 5 December 2025. 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.

The development will consist of: The alteration and re-use of the existing former warehouse building at no 3 Grand Canal Quay to create a new digital library for Trinity College Dublin. Alteration of the existing building east gable to create a new entrance façade including glass windows and screens and backlit glazing elements, refurbishment and repair of the existing south elevation including upgrade or replacement of windows, alteration of west end of building and adjacent store workshop to create a new fire exit and service entrance. Existing roof to be retained but modified to provide additional roof top plant space, ventilation outlets and photovoltaic panels and upgrade of roof glazing and roof safety access systems. External paved areas to the front of the building on Grand Canal quay to be altered as part of the new entrance and interface with the paving to adjacent buildings. Internal floor and column structures to be removed and replaced with new structure to create 3 floors of open plan research and digital library space within the existing external envelope at basement, ground and mezzanine levels arranged around an internal void space or atrium.