Kildare County Council grants permission for 23.4-hectare solar farm at Nurney Road (R415), Greyabbey (townland) Kildare, Co. Kildare

In context

It is one of 19 solar farm applications Kildare County Council has received in the past twelve months, against 351 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 25 April 2024. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues. The applicant sought a 7-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.

for a 7 year planning permission for development on a site of c. 23.4 hectares bounded generally by the M7/M7 Junction no. 13 to the north, residential development under construction (‘Grey Abbey View’) to the south, and the R415 to the east and undeveloped agricultural lands to the west. The development will consist of the construction of 2 no. light industrial buildings of c.61,472 sq. m (for the purpose of timber frame/light gauge steel manufacturing) A) All site clearance and enabling works required to facilitate the development; B) Building A (Factory unit A) will comprise c. 38,124 sq. m GFA) - height of c.17.1 metres (with a partial cladding element extending 1m above roofline on elevations up to 18.1m) and which includes 2,185 sq. m of support and staff welfare facilities, kitchen and dining facilities, warehouse/storage space, and ancillary office space at ground and first floor levels, water tanks, recycling area along with signage on elevations (2 no. types); C) Building B (Factory unit B) will comprise c. 23,348 sq. m GFA) - height of c.17.1 metres (with a partial cladding element extending 1m above roofline on elevations up to 18.1m) and which includes c. 2,185 sq. m of support and staff welfare facilities, kitchen and dining facilities, warehouse/storage space, and ancillary office space at ground and first floor level with signage on elevations (2 no. types); D) Provision of yards and recycling areas, along with loading bays, waste compactor and gated access points, and 2 no. ESB substations, (each with an overall GFA of 42.8 sqm) and the provision of 2 no. single storey security guard houses (each with a GFA of 29.8sqm); E) Access to the unit will be provided via a revised entrance onto the R415 and the provision of 622 no. car parking spaces, parking for 80 trucks/trailers, and 622 no. bicycle spaces; F) The development includes landscaping, boundary treatments, photovoltaic panels at roof level, entrance barriers, site lighting, and all associated site development works, including underground foul and storm water drainage services and attenuation areas, internal drainage diversions, culverts and all ancillary works; G) The development also consists of the reprofiling of the subject site to include an increase of ground levels at the site by up to circa 3m. The increase in ground levels will be facilitated through the importation of approximately 250,000m3 of infill material. For the avoidance of doubt, the imported infill material requi