Meath County Council refuses permission for 74.2-hectare solar farm at Cookstown Great, Kells, Co. Meath

In context

It is one of 17 solar farm applications Meath 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 28 January 2026. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues.

The development description, as lodged

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

a ten year permission for a Solar PV Energy Development with associated Battery Energy Storage System on a site of 74.2 hectares comprising: solar panels on ground mounted steel frames, customer substation, switchgear substations, transformers, inverters, energy storage units, BIC Interface Cabinets (BIC) and BESS Inverters, twin MV transformer skid compacts, monitoring house units, spares containers, BESS intake substation and backup generator, new internal access tracks, new site entrances to the L-2813 public local road and the L-28131 public local road, perimeter security fencing, palisade security fencing, security gates, CCTV system, lighting poles, associated drainage infrastructure, associated ducting and electrical ducting, temporary construction compound, underground cables, landscaping, self-contained composting toilet, and all other ancillary and miscellaneous site works including site clearance, all with a 40 year operational period. As part of a separate Strategic Infrastructure Development (SID) planning application, a 110kV electrical substation with electrical control building and associated compound will be submitted to An Bord Pleanála in due course. A Natura Impact Statement (NIS) has been submitted to the Planning Authority with the application. Significant further information/revised plans submitted on this application