Kildare County Council grants permission for 1.4-hectare solar farm at Monaghan Mushrooms, Drummin, 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 8 November 2023. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues.

The development description, as lodged

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

the construction of a photovoltaic solar farm comprising of 54 no. table solar panel arrays erected on ground mounted galvanised steel frames/support structures located in the southeast corner of the existing mushroom, compost and farm facility. The solar panels will be arranged facing southward with a separation distance of 5 meters between rows. The development also includes (i) ducting and underground electrical cabling; (ii) 2m high perimeter fencing to the north and west site boundaries with associated access gate; (iii) and all ancillary works including landscaping and associated civil engineering works necessary to facilitate the development. The solar farm will provide electrical power to the existing facility