Westmeath County Council grants permission for 17-hectare solar farm at Castlepollard, Co. Westmeath

In context

It is one of 7 solar farm applications Westmeath 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 applicant, or anyone who made a submission on the application, can appeal the decision to An Coimisiún Pleanála within four weeks of 10 April 2025. 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 the use of an existing agricultural track and private road on the Tullynally Castle grounds which accesses onto the local road L1826, as a temporary construction access route for the construction of a solar farm development previously permitted under Planning Ref. No. 17/6361 (and revised under Planning Ref. No. 23/60223 and Planning Ref. No. 23/60222). The proposed development also comprises minor localised widening of the private road and track, the provision of 3 no. pairs of temporary passing bays within existing verges on the L1826 for the period of construction, and the reinstatement of the verges on completion of construction. The proposed construction access route will be used in lieu of a temporary construction access track previously permitted under Planning Ref. 17/6161, through an agricultural field to connect to the existing entrance to Tullynally Castle grounds from the R395. Tullynally Castle is a Protected Structure.