Westmeath County Council grants permission for 3.2-hectare solar farm at Castlepollard Community College, Kinturk Demesne, Co. Westmeath

In context

It is one of 7 solar farm applications Westmeath 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 29 January 2024. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues.

The development description, as lodged

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

demolition of an extension to the main school building (148 sq.m); removal of temporary prefabricated classrooms (510 sq.m), temporary dining hall (126 sq.m) and sheds (44 sq.m); refurbishment of the main school building (1769 sq.m); construction of 2 no. 2-3 storey extensions (4843 sq.m) to contain general and specialist classrooms, a special education needs (SEN) unit, PE hall, general purpose hall, offices, staff room, library, social spaces, sanitary facilities and ancillary spaces, including solar photovoltaic panels at roof level; removal of the existing play area and construction of 2 no. multi-use games areas; provision of a landscaped courtyard area, amphitheatre and SEN play area; reconfiguration of the existing staff and visitor car parking (58 no. spaces) area to provide a total of 61 no. staff parking spaces including 12 no. electric vehicle charging spaces and 5 no. accessible parking spaces; provision of 28 no. sheltered and 8 no. non-sheltered bicycle parking spaces; improvements to the existing bus drop off area and provision of a new car drop-off area with 2 no. new vehicular entry/exit points along the Mullingar Road; provision of general landscaping, upgraded boundary treatments, retaining walls, associated drainage, attenuation and other site services including an ESB substation and electrical switch room (24 sq.m) and external bin areas; and all related site development works. A Natura Impact Statement (NIS) will be submitted to the Planning Authority with the planning application.