Ardagawna, Drum, Athlone

What’s proposed

Permission for development which will consist of a relevant solar farm development comprising: i. Installation of PV panels on ground mounted frames in rows with a max height of 3.2m. ii. An ESB electricity substation compound including single storey substation building and electrical infrastructure. iii. Up to 6 no. single inverter stations (or an alternative string inverter provision). iv. Internal underground electrical and communications cabling and ducting. v. Use of already approved farm access tracks (PD/26/60040) and provision of additional new internal access tracks vi. All ancillary site development works and landscaping, including temporary construction compound, deer-type fencing, security fencing, security gates and CCTV cameras. vii. Widening of existing west site-entrance and relocation of existing east site-entrance. viii. Construction access via L75814, post-construction ESB maintenance access via L20271. ix. The decommissioning and reinstatement of the solar farm at the end of its operational life. x. On a site area of approximately 16.3 hectares. xi. A Natura Impact Statement accompanies this submission. The solar farm will have an operational lifespan of 40 years and an estimated export capacity of approx. 10MW of electricity. Planning permission is sought for a period of 10 years for construction, with an operational life of 40 years from the date of commissioning, including the decommissioning and reinstatement of the solar farm at the end of its operational life. In accordance with Article 239 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 (as amended), notice is hereby given that a Natura Impact Statement is submitted to the planning authority with the application. This development is covered by the provisions of the Renewable Energy Directive III (Directive (EU) 2023/2413) and it is important to note that the planning application is subject to Section 34D of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. When a notice issues in accordance with Section 34D(b), the provisions of Article 26A of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 to 2025 shall apply. The proposed development is at