140-hectare solar farm proposed at Cloncurry Cappanargid, Barnaran Glenaree, Co. Kildare

In context

It is one of 23 solar farm applications Kildare County Council has received in the past twelve months, against 349 nationally. Of the 563 such applications decided by councils in the past three years, 92% were granted.

What happens next

The five-week window for public submissions has closed. The council normally decides within eight weeks of the application being lodged, unless it requests further information, which stops the clock.

The development description, as lodged

Verbatim from the Kildare County Council register. This is the source for every figure in the story above.

RED III development will consist of a solar photovoltaic (PV) farm and all associated works. This application involves the installation of solar PV over an approximate area of 140 hectares, including 30 no. transformers and 1 no. RMU. The proposed development will utilise 3 no. existing construction and operational entrances. The proposed development will utilise existing internal access tracks and will involve the construction of approximately 7km of new internal access tracks. The site is centred at X (ITM) 668919.6 and Y (ITM) 721696.8. Planning permission is sought for a period of 10 years, with an operational life of 40 years from the date of commissioning. This development is covered by the provisions of the Renewable Energy Directive III (Directive (EU) 2023/2413) and it is important to note that the planning application may be subject to section 34D of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. When a notice issues in accordance with section 34D(b), the provisions of article 26A of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 to 2025 shall apply. The planning may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee, €20, within the period of— (a) 5 weeks, or (b) 2 weeks, in the case of a planning application for small-scale solar energy equipment development or development that is the installation of a small-scale non-ground source heat pump, beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application, and such submissions or observations will be considered by the planning authority in making a decision on the application. The planning authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions or may refuse to grant permission. For this application the submission period is 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.