Galway County Council grants permission for 5 MW solar farm at Longford, Ballycrissane, Co. Galway

In context

It is one of 12 solar farm applications Galway County 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 18 September 2023. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues.

The development description, as lodged

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

to amend the design of the approved development (planning reference 16/1500) which comprises consent for a solar PV energy development. Proposed amendments include; (1) addition of 2no. transformer stations, (2) 2no. control buildings to be replaced by a customer substation, (3) removal of CCTV cameras, (4) minor changes to the panel layout, (5) MW output to be decreased from 5MW to 4MW, (6) change in height & number of module racks & pile driven poles & (7) project lifetime proposed to be extended from 25 to 35 years. Gross floor space of proposed works: 85.97 sqm