South Dublin County Council grants permission for 13.8-hectare solar farm at Cappagh and Clonburris Litte, Clonburris, Co. Dublin

In context

It is one of 13 solar farm applications South Dublin County Council has received in the past twelve months, against 349 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 11 December 2023. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues. The applicant sought a 7-year permission, which sets how long they have to start the development.

The development description, as lodged

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

7 year Planning Permission for development at site of c. 13.75 hectares (on 2 parcels of land consisting of construction of 565 dwellings (mixture of apartments, duplex apartments and houses) in the Clonburris Development Areas CSW-S1 & CSW-S2 of the Clonburris SDZ Planning Scheme 2019 as follows a) 230 houses comprising 1 two bedroom house, 217 three bedroom houses and 12 four bedroom houses, all 2 storey (house types H3, H4, H4S, H5, H6 - 3 no. storeys) comprising semi-detached, terraced, end terrace units (with parking, solar panels and private open space); b) 216 duplex apartments/apartments comprising 108 two bedroom units and 108 three bedroom units, in 20 no. 3 no. storey buildings (in a series of 4, 6, 7, 8 & 9 terraced blocks); c) 119 apartments as follows: Block 81 (4 storeys) consists of 72 apartments (33 one bedroom & 39 two bedroom apartments); Block 82 (4 storeys) consists of 47 apartments (17 one bedroom apartments & 30 two bedroom apartments (all apartments to have terrace or balcony); d) Vehicular access will be from the permitted Clonburris Southern Link Street (SDZ20A/0021) and R113 to the east; e) Public Open Space/landscaping of c. 3 hectares (to include Grand Canal Park along the southern boundary of the site to connect to existing Grand Canal towpath) as well as a series of communal open spaces to serve apartments and duplex units; f) The development will also provide for all associated works and infrastructure to facilitate the development to include all ancillary site development works including footpaths, landscaping boundary treatments, public, private open space areas, car parking (675 spaces) and bicycle parking (998 spaces), single storey ESB substations/bike/bin stores, green roofs and solar panels at roof level of apartments, and all ancillary site development / construction works; g) Permission is also sought for provision of and connection to water supply foul drainage infrastructure; This application is being made in accordance with the Clonburris Strategic Development Zone Planning Scheme 2019 all on wider lands bounded generally by the Dublin-Cork railway line to the north, the Grand Canal to the south, and undeveloped lands to the east and west and relates to a proposed development within the Clonburris Strategic Development Planning Scheme Area, as defined by Statutory Instrument No. 604 of 2015; An Environmental Impact Assessment Report accompanies this planning application.