Kildare County Council refuses permission for 180-hectare solar farm at Cowanstown Kealstown Bryanstown Dowdstown, Donaghstown Posseckstown Taghadoe Toolestown, 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 22 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.

for the construction of a solar PV development and an ‘under the fence’ transformer compound on a ca. 180ha site consisting of: I. Solar PV panels laid out in arrays across the Site; II. 39 No. inverter units (ca. 2.9m (h) x ca. 6.1m (l) and 2.4(w)); III. 1 No. control room structure (5m (h) x 15.3m (l) and 3.7m (w)); IV. 1 No. transformer unit (ca. 6m x ca. 4m) and associated bund; V. Security fencing around the ‘under the fence’ transformer compound (2.65m high); VI. Electrical and communications cabling; VII. Pole-mounted security cameras; VIII. Perimeter security fencing (2m high) and security gates; IX. Upgrade of 3 No. existing Site entrances; X. Development of 2 No. new Site entrances; XI. 3 No. temporary construction compounds; XII. Internal access tracks; and, XIII All associated ancillary development, landscaping and reinstatement works