Kildare County Council refuses permission for 235.8-hectare solar farm at Balraheen, 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 24 March 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.

for a period of 10 years to construction and complete a Solar PV and BESS Development with a total site area of 235.8 hectares to include PV panels mounted on metal frames, inverter stations, battery storage infrastructure, (BESS units, PCS Units, storage and maintenance units), new access tracks, underground cabling, perimeter fencing with CCTV cameras and access gates, temporary construction compounds and all ancillary grid infrastructure and associated works. The solar farm would be operational for 40 years. A Natura Impact Statement (NIS) will be submitted with this application