Tipperary County Council grants permission for 88.5-hectare solar farm at Kerane Fawnlough and Ballynaclough, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary

In context

It is one of 20 solar farm applications Tipperary 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 20 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 Tipperary County Council register. This is the source for every figure in the story above.

a 10-year planning permission to construct and complete a solar PV Energy Development with a total site area of c. 88.5 hectares comprising of solar PV ground mounted on support structures, inverter substations, 38kV substation, watercourse crossings, temporary construction compounds, internal access tracks (new, upgrading existing and existing), security fencing, electrical cabling and ducting, CCTV and other ancillary infrastructure. The development also comprises a protected structure ‘S694 – Stone piers and cast iron gates with carriage stone’. This structure is at the entrance to the former Debsborough House and no works are required to the structure. Realignment of 35m of wall, re-location of a telegraph pole and vegetation trimming are required to achieve the northern visibility splay. The solar farm would be operational for 40 years