Wicklow County Council grants permission for 2.5-hectare solar farm at Arklow CBS, Coolgreaney Road, Co. Wicklow

In context

It is one of 11 solar farm applications Wicklow County Council has received in the past twelve months, against 349 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 16 October 2023. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues.

The development description, as lodged

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

Demolition of the existing two-storey school building and single-storey extensions (c. 2570 sq.m) and removal of temporary classrooms on site (c. 120 sq.m); construction of a three-storey school building (c. 7535 sq.m) including general and specialist classrooms, a special education needs (SEN) unit, offices, general purpose hall, PE hall, fitness suite, staff room, library, social spaces, sanitary facilities and ancillary spaces with solar photovoltaic panels at roof level; upgrading of the existing vehicular entrance to the sports pitch and the creation of a new vehicular entrance on Coolgreaney Road to provide dedicated vehicular entrance and exit points as part of a new one-way traffic system through the site; removal of the existing main vehicular entrance and provision of a new pedestrian/cyclist entrance on Coolgreaney Road; provision of a car set-down area within the school grounds and construction of a 56m bus set-down area along Coolgreaney Road; provision of a new pedestrian/cyclist access from John Paul Avenue; removal of 32 no. existing car parking spaces and provision of 70 no. car parking spaces including 1 no electric vehicle parking space and 4 no. accessible parking spaces; provision of 100 no. sheltered bicycle parking spaces; provision of external play and amenity areas including a SEN play area and 3 no. multi-use game areas; provision of landscaping, boundary treatment, site lighting, provision of a covered work area, bin stores and storage shelters; provision of associated drainage, attenuation and other site services including an ESB substation and switch room (c. 25 sq.m); and all related site development works.