Meath County Council grants permission for 205.1-hectare solar farm at Mulhussey Batterstown, Longtown Mullagh & Milltown, Co. Meath

In context

It is one of 17 solar farm applications Meath County Council has received in the past twelve months, against 333 nationally. Of the 572 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 13 August 2024. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues. The applicant sought a 10-year permission, which sets how long they have to start the development.

The development description, as lodged

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

the development will consist of a 10-year planning permission for the construction of, and a 40-year operation and subsequent decommissioning of, a development consisting of a 205.15-hectare solar farm (red line boundary) and underground grid connection route. The solar farm comprises of three separate land parcels divided by local roads. The proposed solar farm will consist of a series of ground mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, mounted on steel support structures and in some areas on concrete shoes to protect possible underground archaeological features, together with 58 electrical transformation enclosures, underground cabling, 2no. temporary construction compounds and use of existing 1no. hardstanding, the use of existing farm access tracks, existing site entrances, widening of 3no. existing site entrance, inverters, CCTV poles and cameras, deer type security/boundary fencing with some areas of boundary development on concrete shoes to further protect possible underground archaeological features, landscaping and biodiversity measures and all associated ancillary development works, for the purpose of generating renewable energy electricity and transmitting it in the townlands of Mulhussey, Batterstown, Longtown, Mullagh & Milltown, Kilcock, Co. Meath. A Natura Impact Statement will also be submitted to the Planning Authority with this application. Significiant further information / revised plans submitted on this applicaiton.