Planning application · Co. Galway

10-year planning permission for the development of a solar farm, Ireland, Co. Galway

Refused 30 Sep 2026

Get updates on this application

We'll email you if the decision is appealed and when building work starts.

We send a confirmation link first. Nothing starts until you click it. You can stop at any time.

Key facts

  • Planning application 2661362 at Ireland, Co. Galway: 10-year planning permission for the development of a solar farm.
  • The applicant is Heron Solar Ltd. The agent is Maire McNamee.
  • It was received by Galway County Council on 7 Aug 2026.
  • Status: Refused 30 Sep 2026.
  • The application was refused on 30 Sep 2026. Work is not expected unless the decision is overturned on appeal or a new application is granted.

Source: the Galway County Council planning register, checked 23 Oct 2026. Open the council's file

More planning applications in Ireland · Planning applications in Co. Galway

What and where

10-year planning permission for the development of a solar farm

A 10-year planning permission for the development of a solar farm on a site of 239 hectares consisting of the following: 1,031,319 sq. m. of solar photovoltaic panels on ground mounted steel frames; 32 no. MV stations on associated hardstanding; new internal access tracks; underground cabling and ducting including along public roads L7138, L7141, L3110, L7140, L31085, L3108, L7132, L7131, and L7129; new access points onto public roads L7138, L3110, L7141, L7129, L71383, and upgrades to existing access points are proposed on public roads L7141, L3110, L7140, L7132, L7129, and L71383; limited alterations to existing stone walls including the creation or widening of access openings and reinstatement works; security fencing; CCTV; drainage infrastructure; landscaping and biodiversity enhancement measures; Horizontal Directional Drilling beneath the disused railway line; temporary construction compounds; and all associated ancillary site development works. The proposed development will be operational for 40 years. 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 may be 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

Location
Ireland, Co. Galway Map
Planning reference
2661362
Application type
Permission
Applicant
Heron Solar Ltd
Agent
Maire McNamee

Numbers and dates

Received
7 Aug 2026
Refused
30 Sep 2026

Timeline

  1. Application received
  2. Refused

Outlook

What happens next

The application was refused on 30 Sep 2026. Work is not expected unless the decision is overturned on appeal or a new application is granted.

Work packages named so far

  • Roads and site development worksNamed in the application description
  • Services and drainageNamed in the application description

An outlook from the planning record, not a tender or a confirmed start date.

Documents and evidence

Check the record

  • Council planning fileThe application file 2661362 on eplanning.ie: drawings, reports and the decision.Open the council's file

Reviewed build intelligence

What the documents establish

Government document review

Application received 7 August 2026; pending in the inspected council record. No council decision, grid permission, procurement opening or installation is established.

2 official documents inspected · Checked 2026-09-06 · Official file index

The proposed array uses ground-mounted modules with stated dimensions

Pending application proposal; procurement and installation unverified · Solar array proposal under Galway County 2661362; no domestic roof or other-phase assignment

What the evidence says
The August 2026 planning report proposes 1,031,319 m² of PV panels on ground-mounted steel frames. Individual modules are approximately 2.4 m by 1.3 m, with a maximum height of 2.9 m above ground and a dark anti-reflective finish. This is panel surface area across the solar-farm application, not building floor area or an installed capacity.

Why it may matter — interpretation
A solar contractor or mounting-system supplier can assess the proposed module geometry and ground-mounted arrangement, then obtain the selected module and structural package before pricing.

What is not established
Module manufacturer, rated generation capacity, final frame design, procurement status and installation are not established.

Inspect the evidence

Bellville Solar Farm Planning and Environmental Report · p.15
1,031,319 sq. m. of solar photovoltaic panels · Issued August 2026 (month only) · August 2026 report; council received 7 August 2026; received 2026-08-07 · Checked 2026-09-06

1,031,319 sq. m. of solar photovoltaic panels

MV equipment is proposed; the grid substation has a separate consent scope

Pending application proposal; procurement and installation unverified · MV stations within 2661362; separate future 220 kV application remains outside this permission identity

What the evidence says
The report proposes 32 MV stations containing inverters, transformers and switchgear. It says precise specifications depend on the manufacturer selected through a competitive procurement process. The proposed 220 kV substation and associated grid infrastructure are described as a separate future Commission application; no Commission case identifier or consent is established here. The statement about a procurement process is application intent, not proof of an open tender.

Why it may matter — interpretation
An electrical equipment supplier should distinguish the 32-station application scope from the separate grid substation and verify the actual procurement notice and equipment schedule before treating the report as a sales opportunity.

What is not established
Selected manufacturers, final equipment ratings, an open procurement process, the separate substation case/permission and installed equipment are unverified.

Inspect the evidence

Bellville Solar Farm Planning and Environmental Report · p.15
32 no. MV stations · Issued August 2026 (month only) · August 2026 report; council received 7 August 2026; received 2026-08-07 · Checked 2026-09-06

32 no. MV stations

Bellville Solar Farm Planning and Environmental Report · p.16
manufacturer selected · Issued August 2026 (month only) · August 2026 report; council received 7 August 2026; received 2026-08-07 · Checked 2026-09-06

manufacturer selected

Initial basin sizing still requires site infiltration tests

Pending application proposal; procurement and installation unverified · Preliminary infiltration design for the Bellville solar-farm drainage subcatchments

What the evidence says
The drainage report Rev 03 dated 4 August 2026 uses a 1% AEP rainfall event plus 20% climate-change allowance. Its initial basin sizing assumes 0.018 m/h infiltration, a factor of safety of 3 and a shallow effective depth of 0.3 m. It expressly requires post-planning BRE Digest 365 infiltration testing to verify location-specific rates before detailed design; the assumed rate is not a measured result.

Why it may matter — interpretation
A civil designer or ground-investigation contractor needs the BRE 365 tests before fixing basin sizes or pricing final earthworks against the provisional storage design.

What is not established
Verified infiltration rates, final basin dimensions, ground investigation results, detailed design and constructed drainage are not established.

Inspect the evidence

Bellville Solar Farm Flood Risk Assessment and Drainage Plan · p.26
climate change (+ 20%) · Issued 2026-08-04 · Revision 03, 4 August 2026, issued for information and amended access descriptions; general report date August 2026; received 2026-08-07 · Checked 2026-09-06

climate change (+ 20%)

Bellville Solar Farm Flood Risk Assessment and Drainage Plan · p.30
0.018 m/h · Issued 2026-08-04 · Revision 03, 4 August 2026, issued for information and amended access descriptions; general report date August 2026; received 2026-08-07 · Checked 2026-09-06

0.018 m/h

Track gradients determine drainage; four ditch crossings have a minimum pipe size

Pending application proposal; procurement and installation unverified · Track and ephemeral agricultural-ditch drainage within 2661362; not a general culvert specification for surrounding watercourses

What the evidence says
The drainage plan proposes swales with check dams and infiltration basins where tracks slope towards roads or exceed 5% gradient. It does not propose the same drainage for unbound-gravel tracks below 5%, or drainage of the PV panels themselves. Four agricultural drainage-ditch crossings are proposed using minimum 600 mm diameter twin-wall pipes. The report distinguishes these from minor or major watercourse crossings, which it says are not required.

Why it may matter — interpretation
A drainage contractor can identify where swales and twin-wall crossing pipes are relevant, then check the exact layout and detailed levels rather than applying the same drainage treatment to every track or panel row.

What is not established
Exact pipe lengths, final crossing design, supplier, approved detailed levels and installation are unverified.

Inspect the evidence

Bellville Solar Farm Flood Risk Assessment and Drainage Plan · p.27
gradients > 5% · Issued 2026-08-04 · Revision 03, 4 August 2026, issued for information and amended access descriptions; general report date August 2026; received 2026-08-07 · Checked 2026-09-06

gradients > 5%

Bellville Solar Farm Flood Risk Assessment and Drainage Plan · p.30
min. 600 mm diameter twin wall pipes · Issued 2026-08-04 · Revision 03, 4 August 2026, issued for information and amended access descriptions; general report date August 2026; received 2026-08-07 · Checked 2026-09-06

min. 600 mm diameter twin wall pipes
Remaining document questions
  • Which later official decision, approved detail or revision changes these source-specific findings?
  • Has a phase-specific official record established the selected equipment or installed specification?

Selected pages of 2 government-published PDFs were visually inspected. The exact index lists 242 rows. Two PDFs support four findings across seven reviewed pages. A separately downloaded drawing could not be text-extracted and is not counted as reviewed; no full-catalogue inspection is claimed. Proposals do not establish procurement or installed work.

How we know this

From the Galway County Council planning register, checked 23 Oct 2026. We link to the council's own file so you can check the official record before you act. Facts from the planning documents were read from the documents in that file.

Explore the area

More planning activity near Ireland

Get alerts for IrelandFree. We email you when new applications appear.

Free email alerts

Get new Ireland projects by email

New applications, decisions and site starts in Ireland, Co. Galway. Only when there is something new.

We send a confirmation link first. Nothing starts until you click it. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Email alerts for this applicationMore alert options