Solar farm granted planning permission on Kildare border after refusal overruled (cloned)
Laois County Council rejected the proposed solar farm in December 2025
A solar farm development in Laois was given the go ahead from An Coimisiún Pleanála after its planning application was initially rejected at the end of last year.
BNRG Bracklone Ltd applied for planning permission from Laois County Council for a large section of the 60 hectare solar farm to be developed in Laois, with the majority of the development proposed to be constructed in Kildare.
The solar farm would be located in Kilmullen, Ullard or Controversyland, Clonanny, Lea and Loughmansland Glebe, Portarlington and on land in Coolnafearagh in Kildare.
In total 22.7 hectares of the 32MW solar farm would be located near Portarlington in Laois with the remainder in Kildare. In Laois, part of the proposed site surrounds the historic Kilmullen House which is a protected structure in the Laois County Development Plan.
BNRG Bracklone Ltd appealed Laois County Council’s decision to reject the application to An Coimisiún Pleanála.
The plans for the solar farm which was designed to produce enough electricity to power around 6,000 homes was rejected on three grounds.
Laois County Council said the Natura Impact Statement accompanying the application didn’t quantify the extent of habitat loss and there was “no analysis of cumulative impacts on features relevant to bat species or on habitats associated with Natura 2000 sites.”
The planner noted the statement also hadn’t shown the project would “not adversely affect the integrity of the River Barrow and River Nore SAC (Special Area of Conservation).”
The Council also argued that the Architectural Heritage Impact Assessment Report wasn’t comprehensive enough to conclude the development would not have a significant impact on Kilmullen House.
There were also concerns from the Council that the proposed entrance to the site on the R420 could be a traffic hazard.
The planning application was met with significant local opposition, with 23 objections from residents in the area and local Cllr Aidan Mullins.
Among the issues raised by local residents were noise pollution, road safety concerns, the visual and environmental impact, the potential risk of fire with storing batteries for the development and many more.
Despite these concerns, An Coimisiún Pleanála has decided to overrule Laois County Council’s decision and instead grant planning permission to the development on a conditional basis.
According to An Coimisiún Pleanála: “The proposed development is an acceptable land use and would make a positive contribution to Ireland’s requirements for renewable energy in accordance with national, regional and local policy.
“It would not have an unacceptable impact on the character of the landscape or on architectural heritage or cultural heritage, would not seriously injure the visual and residential amenities of the area including designated views and prospects and scenic routes and would be acceptable in terms of traffic and road safety. The proposed development would, therefore, be in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.”
In terms of its environmental impact, they ruled: “The Commission considers that the proposed development would not be likely to have significant effects on the environment and that the preparation and submission of an Environmental Impact Assessment Report is not, therefore, required.”
Planning permission has been granted on the basis of a number of conditions, including the full implementation of mitigation measures within the Natura Impact Statement which was submitted with the application.
Permission for the operation of the proposed development is for a period of 40 years from the date of the commissioning of the solar rays. The solar array and related ancillary structures shall then be decommissioned and removed unless planning permission is granted for their continued usage.
Prior to the commencement of the development, a decommissioning statement, including a detailed restoration plan and a timescale for its implementation, providing for the removal of the solar arrays and other associated infrastructure must be submitted.