Planning granted for huge solar farm near Duckett’s Grove, Carlow
For illustrative purposes.
PLANNING permission has been granted for a 326-acre solar farm near Duckett’s Grove after Carlow Co Council’s initial decision to refuse it was overturned by An Coimisiún Pleanála following an appeal. The decision was made on 23 March for the proposed site at lands in between Straboe and Killerig, with Duckett’s Grove located approximately 750 metres to the north of one of the fields included in the proposed development.
The development plans were submitted by Lightsource Renewable Energy Ireland Ltd and include the installation of solar panels on ground-mounted steel frames, 58 inverters/transformers, 29 switchgear substations, five permanent storage containers and three auxiliary transformers.
There are also plans for security fencing, CCTV, cabling and two temporary construction compounds.
Lightsource Renewable Energy Ireland is the Irish arm of Lightsource BP, a British solar energy company and now a subsidiary of multinational energy company BP. Lightsource BP is one of the largest solar developers in Europe.
Carlow Co Council refused permission for the solar farm in August 2025 for various reasons, including its proposed proximity to Duckett’s Grove and the impact it would have on the surrounding landscape.
In its refusal decision, the council outlined that the development would be contrary to conditions in the Carlow County Development Plan 2022-2028, which seeks to ‘protect and maintain the overall integrity of the county’s landscape’.
The council said it was not satisfied that the solar farm would not result in ‘disproportionate and adverse landscape and visual impacts on the predominantly rural and agricultural landscape’. It also said it was not satisfied that the proposed development ‘would not detract from the character, setting and historic landscape of Duckett’s Grove and its national, regional and county level importance for architectural heritage and associated key role for tourism and recreation’.
Duckett’s Grove is a protected structure and is listed in the , with a national rating due to its considerable architectural significance.
Several submissions from members of the public objecting to the initial plans were received by the council in 2024, with a number of the submissions referencing the potential loss of prime agricultural land. The site is currently being used for arable farming and cattle grazing.
One of the submissions opposed to the development said that transforming the ‘valuable’ land into an industrial-scale solar farm would result in the ‘permanent loss of fertile soil, which is crucial for continued success in our local farming community,’ referencing the increasing importance of food security in the context of global uncertainties.
Another submission said that the land at Killerig and Straboe is some of the highest quality in the country and can produce two to four tonnes of grain per acre.
An Coimisiún Pleanála granted the planning permission on 23 March, ruling that the development would not negatively impact the landscape, cultural heritage or the visual and residential amenities of the area. The commission was also satisfied that the project would pose no unacceptable risk to ecology, public health or traffic safety and concluded that it would make a positive contribution to Ireland’s renewable energy needs in line with national, regional and local policy.
