Kildare County Council refuses permission for 5.8-hectare solar farm at Curragh Road Athgarvan, Newbridge', Co. Kildare

In context

It is one of 12 solar farm applications Kildare County Council has received in the past twelve months, against 335 nationally. Of the 573 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 13 May 2025. 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 proposed development shall consist of the following: The demolition of 2 no. single storey vacant dwellings and all associated outbuildings (approx. 349 sq m) and the construction of a new retirement village (1-2 storeys in height) consisting of (a) 92 no. residential units (12 no. 1 beds and 80 no. 2 beds) comprising 8 no. 1-bed single storey courtyard style houses (Type A1), 36 no. 2-bed single storey courtyard style houses (Types A2, B1, B2, B3 and B4), 40 no. 2-bed two storey mid terrace/end of terrace houses (Types C1, C1A and C2), 4 no. 1-bed and 4 no. 2-bed maisonettes / own-door apartments (Type D1 and D2) in 2 no. two storey buildings, all with an associated private amenity garden/terrace/winter garden area; (b) the construction of a new single storey recreational building (approx. 479.3 sqm) and associated external terrace area comprising an office, kitchen, multifunction room, activity / music room, wellness suite, library/games room, 3 no. treatment rooms, store rooms, bathrooms, changing rooms and external service yard; (c) the provision of a centralised area of open space (approx. 18,337 sq m) consisting of a bowling green, pickleball court, play space, amenity open space and allotments; and (d) communal open space (approx. 8,128 sq m). The development will also provide for 134 no. car parking spaces (125 no. standard spaces and 7 no. accessible car parking spaces) and 32 no. secure visitor bicycle parking spaces; 1 no. new vehicular access / egress point via the Curragh Road with vehicular and pedestrian access gates and the provision of a new footpath, cycle path and boundary planting along Curragh Road for c.332.5m bounding the site; 2 no. ESB substation kiosks; diversion of 38kv ESB overhead lines underground and the erection of 1 no. new mast (approx. 12m); site development and infrastructural works providing for water, foul and surface water drainage and all associated connections; all landscaping and boundary treatment works; public lighting; PV/solar panels; internal roads and footpaths; and all associated site clearance, excavation and site development works. Revised by Significant Further Information which consists of; (a) an increase in site area to facilitate works on Curragh Road; (b) a reduction of residential unit numbers from 92 no. units to 86 no. units; (c) the unit mix has been updated providing a greater range of typologies; (d) the relocation and increase in GFA of the recreational building to c.563.8m2; (e) modifica