Kildare County Council grants permission for 8.2-hectare solar farm at Kildare Innovation Campus, Leixlip, Co. Kildare

In context

It is one of 12 solar farm applications Kildare County Council has received in the past twelve months, against 337 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 2 April 2026. 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.

Extension of Duration: 20/873: the construction of a logistics warehouse with ancillary office accommodation (total c. 25,268 sqm) to an overall height of 14.86 metres. The warehouse element of the development is principally single storey including an ancillary mezzanine level (554 sqm). The ancillary offices, comprising c. 1,737 sqm, are provided over three storeys and include toilets, change rooms, showers, cafeteria, gym, plant areas and circulation spaces. The proposed development will also include: the provision of a new vehicular access from Barnhall Road roundabout with ancillary associated entry/exit gates, access road and footpath; 179 no. surface car parking spaces including electric vehicle charging stations and 18 no. bicycle parking; solar pv panels on the warehouse roof; hard and soft landscaping; signage; sprinkler storage tanks and pump house; an electrical substation (c. 54 sqm); and all ancillary works including boundary treatments, street lighting, site excavation and development works above and below ground. The site is principally bounded by: Liffey Business Campus to the north; Barnhall Road to the east; Barnhall Rugby Football Club to the south; and by grounds associated with Castletown House to the west. At this site of c. 8.19 hectares at Liffey Business Campus (formerly known as the Hewlett Packard Campus)