Conditional green light for 73 hectare solar farm to be constructed in County Carlow

Carlow County Council has provided conditional planning approval for a planning application that seeks 10 year planning permission for a 73 hectare solar farm development. The planning application was for 10 year planning permission with the proposed site in the townlands of Ballybar Lower, Ballybar Upper, Ballycarney, Ballyloo, Linkardstown, Park and Tinryland, County Carlow.

The planning application was submitted to the Carlow County Council on the 19th of July 2024 and the decision was made on the solar farm on the 24th of April 2025.

The planning application has been subject to strong local submission in relation to the proposed development.

The conditional approval is subject to a 4 weeks appeals period whereby appeals can be made to An Bord Pleanála and is not currently a Granted Permission.

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The details of the solar farm in the planning application read as follows:

A 10 Year planning permission for a solar farm with a total area of circa 73 hectares in the townlands of Ballybar Lower, Ballybar Upper, Ballycarney, Ballyloo, Linkardstown, Park and Tinryland in County Carlow.

The solar farm will consist of solar panels on ground mounted frames, 11 no. single storey electrical inverter/transformer stations, 3 no. single storey spare parts containers, 2 no. Ring Main Units, 3 no. weather stations, underground electrical ducting and cabling within the development site, private lands and within the L1010, L3051, L3052 and L3050 public roads to connect solar farm field parcels, security fencing, CCTV, access tracks, 3 no. watercourse/drain deck crossings and 2 no. horizontal directional drill crossings (under M9 motorway and L3050).

Temporary construction compounds, landscaping and all associated ancillary development and drainage works. Construction and operational access will be via 2 no. entrances from the L1022 and L1010.

Sections of the proposed underground electrical cabling will traverse the solar farm proposed under Carlow County Council Reference 24/60043, but will not alter infrastructure proposed under that application. The operational lifespan of the solar farm will be 40 years and planning permission is requested for this duration. A Natura Impact Statement (NIS) has been prepared and will be submitted to the Planning Authority with the application

On the Carlow Council's planning permission website, a submission has been made on the proposed development, some of the concerns include:

Concern during the construction and installation phase "I believe that my client's home will be considerably disrupted during both the construction and installation phase of this development not to mention the on-going traffic associated with its maintenance."

Concerns also that the road may be subject to flooding "this particular stretch of road is subject to flooding during heavy rain conditions."

The submission also mentions that "this entrance directly opposite my client's property is from a minor road, restrictive in width and with restrictive sight lines to enter this proposal."

There are 36 conditions provided along with the decision.

Conditions must be followed in the construction of the planning application subject to the 4 weeks appeal.

The conditions that are in place relate to a number of areas. Including, interest of traffic safety, public health and the protection of environment, and reinstatement of the site. There are a number of other conditions that can be found on the Carlow County Council planning website.