The Rathrush Solar Farm project, located in County Carlow, is a large-scale 63 MW solar photovoltaic development being brought forward by Ørsted Onshore Ireland Midco. Jennings O’Donovan (JOD) has been appointed to prepare the full planning submission to Carlow County Council, including a comprehensive Planning and Environmental Report, detailed project management, and the coordination of specialist technical consultants.
The proposed development covers a combined area of approximately 118.86 hectares, comprising two main land parcels connected by 684 metres of underground cabling. The western section extends over 14.4 hectares and consists of four fields divided by established hedgerows, while the eastern section spans 101.8 hectares across fourteen fields separated by hedgerows, agricultural tracks and the L7115 public road. The scheme includes solar PV arrays, inverter/transformer stations, access tracks, internal cable networks, fencing, CCTV cameras and associated ancillary infrastructure.
JOD’s work on the project focuses on the delivery of a robust planning application supported by environmental assessments across a range of disciplines. Potential environmental impacts were examined in relation to ecology and biodiversity, soils and geology, hydrology and hydrogeology, flood risk, landscape and visual effects, population and human health, glint and glare, cultural heritage, traffic and transport, noise and vibration, and material assets including agriculture. JOD has managed all survey work, coordinated specialist inputs, and led the preparation of environmental documentation.
The planning application is scheduled for submission to Carlow County Council in early August 2024, with JOD providing ongoing project management, stakeholder communication and technical oversight to ensure a comprehensive and compliant submission.