Wicklow County Council grants permission for 3.1-hectare solar farm at Baltinglass District Hospital, Newtownsaunders Baltinglass, Co. Wicklow

In context

It is one of 10 solar farm applications Wicklow 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 August 2024. 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.

a) a new standalone substation, client switch room and external store building; b) a new standalone plant room and external plant area; c) window, curtain wall, door, cladding and roof upgrade works; d) roof mounted solar photovoltaic panels, and all associated site development works. The post box (ref no. 27-31) and union work house (ref no. 27-32) at Baltinglass District Hospital are protected structures within the boundary of the development