Wicklow County Council grants permission for 13.8-hectare solar farm at Ballycooleen, Avoca, Co. Wicklow

In context

It is one of 10 solar farm applications Wicklow County Council has received in the past twelve months, against 337 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 30 April 2026. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues. The applicant sought a 10-year permission, which sets how long they have to start the development.

The development description, as lodged

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

section 42 - extension of appropriate period - 16/176 - 10 year permission for the construction of a Solar PV Energy development within a total site area of up to 13.76 ha to include one single storey electrical substation building, electrical transformer / inverter station modules, solar PV panels ground mounted on steel support structures, access roads, fencing and associated electrical cabling, ducting and ancillary infrastructure