RefusedDecided 31 July 2025Carlow County Council

2460295: For a ten-year planning permission for a renewable energy development comprising the construction of a c. 63MW solar farm of 118.9ha and associated works in the Townlands of Rathrush, Emlicon and Bendinstown, Co Carlow. The proposed development will consist of: • A c. 63MW solar farm comprising ground mounted solar photovoltaic panels. • 15 No. Invertor Combiner Kiosk /Transformers and hardstands. • 1 No. Ring Main Unit. • 2 No. spare parts storage containers. • Provision of site access tracks and upgrading of existing tracks. • Underground cabling within the solar farm site, in private lands and under the L7111, L7114, L7115 local roads to connect the solar farm field parcels, and to connect the solar farm to the permitted Garreenleen Substation. • 3 No. temporary construction compounds. • Demolition of derelict agricultural building and disused silage storage structure. • Upgrading and widening works at Site entrances. • All ancillary development including such as an up to 2.4m high stock proof fence, CCTV and drainage infrastructure. This application is seeking a ten-year permission and a 35-year operational period from the date of overall commissioning of the solar farm. This application is accompanied by a Natura Impact Statement (NIS)

Rathrush Emlicon and Bendinstown, Ballon, Co. Carlow
DecisionRefused
Decided31 July 2025
Application typePERMISSION
Source documents7

Site

What is on file

1refusal reasons0conditions8nearby records

Decision details

Core application dates and identifiers from the public planning record.

Planning analysis

Refusal reasons and planning conditions extracted from the public decision file.

Refusal reasons

Traffic Sightlines

The existing minor road network cannot safely accommodate the volume of heavy goods vehicle traffic required for construction, raising concerns over sightlines, road damage, and local resident disruption.

County Development Plan Figure 16.1 and Table 16.5 (sightlines at site entrances)
main issue is the existing minor road network and how can we get them to accommodate local traffic and maintain road until works are completed.

Conditions

No conditions

No conditions are on record for this application yet.

Source documents

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Nearby precedent

Similar nearby applications linked to this planning decision.