Galway County Council grants permission for 41.8-hectare solar farm at Cloonascragh, Tuam, Co. Galway

In context

It is one of 12 solar farm applications Galway County Council has received in the past twelve months, against 333 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 10 January 2025. 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.

for an amendment planning application to the previously granted permission under planning reference 19/1315 (ABP-306685-20). The proposed amendments to the previously consented planning application will comprise the following: Reconfiguration and reduction in the overall length of internal access roads, reduction and relocation in the number of transformer stations, reduction and reconfiguration in the number of solar PV modules to optimise layout, provision of a spare parts container, amendments to the consented 38kV on-site substation control building & compound, relocation of consented site access by circa 440 metres at the southern portion of the site, amendments to the consented grid connection for the completion and installation of 180 metres of 38kV underground electricity cables, and ducts through ESB land to the Cloon 110kV substation