Westmeath County Council grants permission for 7.7-hectare solar farm at Pass of Kilbride, Milltownpass, Co. Westmeath

In context

It is one of 7 solar farm applications Westmeath 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 November 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.

development which will consist of amendments to a previously permitted solar farm development (Westmeath County Council (WCC) Reg. Ref.: 19/6168; An Bord Pleanála (ABP) Ref 305992-19). The amendments consist of the relocation of a vehicular access to the site from the R446, reduction in the extent of solar panel layout, revised internal access track arrangement, landscaping and relocation of temporary construction compound and MV transformer and all associated ancillary site development works.