Waterford City and County Council grants permission for 2-hectare solar farm at Cork Road, Cork Road Waterford, Co. Waterford

In context

It is one of 19 solar farm applications Waterford City and County Council has received in the past twelve months, against 351 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 24 April 2024. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues.

The development description, as lodged

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

for the following Large-Scale Residential Development (LRD) comprising of the construction of a student accommodation development which will consist of the construction of 85 no. student accommodation apartments (ranging in size from 5-bed apartments to 8-bed apartments) comprising a total of 582 no. bed spaces in 4 no. blocks ranging in height from 4-6 storeys, with student amenity facilities including 1 no. retail/cafe unit, communal areas, laundry room, reception, student and staff facilities, storage, ESB substation/switch room, bin and general stores and plant rooms. The development also includes the provision of landscaping and amenity areas including a central courtyard space, public realm/plaza (fronting on to the Cork Road), the provision of a set down area, 1 no. vehicular access point onto Ballybeg Drive, car and bicycle parking, footpaths, signage, boundary treatment, pedestrian and cycle improvements to Lacken Road (including a pedestrian crossing) and all ancillary development including pedestrian/cyclist facilities, lighting, drainage (including 2 no. bio retention ponds and upgrades to existing culverts), landscaping, boundary treatments and plant including PV solar at roof level. A Natura Impact Statement (NIS) has been prepared and will be submitted to the planning authority with the application. The NIS will be available for inspection or purchase at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy during office hours at the offices of the Planning Authority.