Kildare County Council grants permission for 210 MW solar farm at Brannockstown Brownstown Carnalway Coghlanstown, Co. Kildare

In context

It is one of 19 solar farm applications Kildare 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 28 November 2023. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues. The applicant sought a 10-year permission, which sets how long they have to start the development.

The development description, as lodged

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

10 Year Planning Permission for a solar farm with a total area of circa 246 hectares in the townlands of Brannockstown, Brownstown, Carnalway, Coghlanstown West, Corbally, Delamain, Dunnstown, Gaganstown, Greenhills, Harristown, Hillsborough, Moorhill and Rochestown in County Kildare. The solar farm will consist of solar photovoltaic panels with a surface area of 1,130,000m2 on ground mounted frames, 40 no. single storey electrical inverter/transformer stations, 4 no. single storey spare parts containers, 19 no. Ring Main Units, 9 no. weather stations underground electrical ducting and cabling within the development site, private lands and within the L6063, L2032, L6071, R448, L6072, R412, L6074, L6047 and R413 public roads to connect solar farm field parcels, security fencing, CCTV, access tracks, 5 no. stream and drain deck crossings, temporary construction compounds, landscaping and all associated ancillary development and drainage works. Construction and operational access will be via entrances from the R412, R413, L6044, L6047 and L6063. The solar farm will have a maximum export capacity of circa 210 megawatts. The operational lifespan of the solar farm will be 40 years and planning permission is requested for this duration. Part of the proposed development is situated within the demesne land of Harristown House which contains Protected Structures, but no works are proposed to these Protected Structures but no works are proposed to these Protected Structures. Revised by significant Further Information consisting of revised site layout plans to reduce panelled areas in Parcels 1 and 2, relocation of meteorological mast in Parcel 1 and all associated landscaping and ancillary works