Westmeath County Council grants permission for 43-hectare solar farm at Parcellstown, Shanonagh and Clondardis, 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 September 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.

Amendments to the design of an approved solar farm development on lands within the townlands of Parcellstown, Shanonagh, Clondardis, Co. Westmeath (Westmeath County Council Planning Reg. Ref. 22/113). The proposed amendments include an extension of the red line boundary to provide for access from the approved Clondardis solar farm to the east (Westmeath County Council Planning Reg. Ref. 20/6132); Minor revisions to access tracks throughout the site; Revised perimeter fencing; Inclusion of a new perimeter gate; A new bridge crossing an existing arterial drain within the site; Underground power and communication cables and ducts; An optimised Solar PV Panel configuration within the same areas of the site as the previously permitted solar farm to comprise 238,362 square meters of solar panels; Solar panel array height increase from 3m to 3.2m; Rerouting of the permitted access track within the northern parcel; Revised hardstanding and electrical skid provision; Removal of on-site substation; Removal of storage container; Minor red line boundary revisions and all other associated ancillary development. Permission is also sought to extend the life span of the consented development from 35 years to 40 years.