Laois County Council refuses permission for 32 MW solar farm at Portarlington, Co. Laois

In context

It is one of 4 solar farm applications Laois 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 30 December 2025. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues.

The development description, as lodged

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

develop the following within Co. Laois: • Linear arrays of solar PV panels on ground mounted steel supported structures with associated cabling and ducting (including onsite control and switch gear room and underground cable grid connection to the Bracklone 110kV substation); • 2 no. proposed single storey inverter stations; • A co-located Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) park (including 16 no. containers with cells and 4 no. containers with PCS and inverters) with associated security fencing and gates; • Site Perimeter fencing; • 1 no. new site entrance with palisade double security gates; • 1 no. temporary construction compound/carpark/material storage area with associated temporary site offices, parking areas and security fencing; • 1 no. temporary and 1 no. permanent steel storage containers; • Site access tracks including passing and turning bays; • On-site pole mounted CCTV cameras; • 1 no. temporary construction stage Moby Dick type wheel wash systems; • 1 no. Concrete wash out locations (within temporary construction compound); and • All associated and ancillary works The proposed solar farm development spans a total site area measuring 60.36 ha, of which 37.66 ha is located in Co. Kildare and 22.7 ha is located in Co. Laois. Permission is sought for a period of 10 years with an operational period of 40 years. The total capacity of Solar PV on the site is estimated to be 32 MW. An Appropriate Assessment Screening Report (AASR) and Natura Impact Statement (NlS) has been prepared for this development and submitted with this planning application. The development is covered by the provisions of the (RED III) Renewable Energy Directive III (Directive (EU) 2023/2413 ). The planning application is 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.