Kildare County Council grants permission for 3.8-hectare solar farm at Greatconnell, Newbridge, Co. Kildare

In context

It is one of 12 solar farm applications Kildare 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 2 September 2024. 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.

for development at a site of c. 3.8 hectares at Greatconnell, Newbridge, Co. Kildare, and includes lands within the ownership of Kildare County Council along the Newbridge South Orbital Relief Road (c. 0.26 ha). The site is principally bounded by: Pfizer campus to the northwest; Keurig Dr Pepper manufacturing facility to the northeast; Newbridge South Orbital Relief Road to the southeast; and greenfield lands in the ownership of the applicant to the southwest. The proposed development primarily comprises the demolition of an existing car park and associated site clearance works and the construction of a distribution warehouse with ancillary office accommodation with a cumulative gross floor area (GFA) of c. 10,801 sqm. The development will consist of: 1 No. warehouse building (c. 10,801 sq m GFA, c. 160 m length, c. 65 m width, and c. 17 m height) inclusive of 1,242 sq m of office space which will include reception areas, conference/meeting rooms, breakout areas, canteens, and overnight truck driver accommodation; Truck yard comprising some 12 No. docking bays, HGV parking bays (13 No. between docks, 6 No. to the rear of the yard, 12 No. trailer-only parking bays to the east of the yard), associated circulation space, wash area, outdoor breakout area with smoking shelter, bin store, and sprinkler tank compound area; 2 No. site access points/roads off Newbridge South Orbital Relief Road to facilitate HGV and LGV access; Some 86 No. car parking spaces, including some 6 No. customer collection spaces, and some 17 No. EV car parking spaces; 44 No. bicycle spaces; Attenuation pond; Electricity substation and switch room along eastern access road (c. 32 sq m); Relocation of existing bus stop c. 100 m west along Newbridge South Orbital Relief Road to facilitate HGV and LGV access; and All ancillary works including drainage, SuDS, signage, cycle lanes, solar PV panels, fire tender access road, fencing, landscaping, lighting, plant and equipment, and all other associated works above and below ground