151-hectare solar farm proposed at Cashel, Co. Tipperary

In context

It is one of 20 solar farm applications Tipperary County Council has received in the past twelve months, against 335 nationally. Of the 573 such applications decided by councils in the past three years, 92% were granted.

What happens next

The five-week window for public submissions has closed. The council normally decides within eight weeks of the application being lodged, unless it requests further information, which stops the clock.

The development description, as lodged

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

RED III application for the construction of a solar photovoltaic (PV) energy development with a total site area of 151 hectares. The proposed development includes for the erection of solar panels on ground-mounted galvanised steel frames, 17 no. transformer units, a permanent operations compound, inverters, underground cabling and ducting, security fencing, pole mounted closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras, upgrade of 5 no. existing site entrances, construction of 1 no. new site entrance, internal site access tracks, landscaping, 1 no. temporary construction compound, 4 no. satellite compounds, temporary laydown areas and all associated development works. The operational lifespan of the solar PV development will be 40 years. The planning application is accompanied by a Natura Impact Statement. The proposed development will incorporate a grid connection which will be subject to a separate planning application at a later date