Tipperary County Council grants permission for 2.1-hectare solar farm at Newport College Black Road, Newport, Co. Tipperary

In context

It is one of 20 solar farm applications Tipperary 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 6 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 Tipperary County Council register. This is the source for every figure in the story above.

the construction of a 1, 2 & 3 storey extension with a total floor area of 3,508m² comprising: 13 no. classrooms, 8 no. specialist classrooms, 1 no. SET room, a 2 classroom SEN unit with direct access to own outdoor play area & sensory garden, all necessary ancillary spaces, the installation of roof mounted solar PV panels, ASHP, 2 no. static water storage tanks (below ground), the demolition of 1 no. lean-to store (34m²) & 1 no. single storey prefab (162m²), the removal of a 1 & 2 storey prefabricated classroom block (1,042m²) together with site works comprising: alterations to lower the existing front boundary wall (for the extent of the proposed extension) and formation of a new pedestrian entrance, adjustments to the existing staff car parking layout and the addition of new car & bicycle parking (with shelter) to the front of the existing main school building, all associated drainage & site development works, and improvements to the 2 no. existing vehicular entrances onto Black Road along with the provision of a temporary construction access onto the Black Road