In 2024, our Planning team had the opportunity to provide planning knowledge and expertise on a diverse range of projects for both the public and private sectors. Our team consists of three project units which focus on:
- Renewables
- Housing and Public Infrastructure
- Commercial and Industrial
Our Planning team reflects on the opportunities we provide our clients as Ireland’s largest planning and environmental consultancy. We look forward to working with you to meet your planning needs next year and into the future. We want to highlight a few of the many successful projects our team has been grateful to participate in throughout 2024.
Ballivor Wind Farm
Ballivor Wind Farm, which consists of 26 no. wind turbines was granted permission by An Bord Pleanála in November of this year. The wind farm is located on Bord na Móna cutaway peatlands on the border of counties Meath and Westmeath, with a site area of over 1,150 hectares. The application consisted of 26 wind turbines with a tip height of 200m, a 110kv substation and associated infrastructure such as site roads, entrances, borrow pits, construction compounds and amenity tracks. The permitted wind farm will have a total megawatt export capacity ranging from 117MW – 169MW, making it one of the largest single wind farms in Ireland. It will significantly contribute to achieving the national Climate Action Plan 2024 target of generating 9GW of electricity from onshore wind and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2030.
This significant milestone is a testament to our teams’ dedication and expertise across various disciplines, including Environmental Renewables, Ecology, Ornithology, Landscape and Visual, CAD, GIS, Bats, and Planning.
Kilderry Solar Farm, Kilkenny
MKO was proud to lead the successful planning application for Kilderry Solar Farm, a 45-hectare project near Johnswell, Co. Kilkenny, which will generate clean energy for 7,400 homes. In addition to supporting Ireland’s 2030 renewable energy goals, the project emphasises biodiversity with measures like hedgerow planting, wildflowers, and soil restoration. MKO provided expert planning advice to guide the project through key stages, ensuring compliance with environmental and community standards. Key design aspects, including glint and glare, landscape and visual impact, traffic and transport, and noise and vibration, were carefully considered to minimise disruptions and enhance local ecological health.
Glenveagh Properties, Knocknacarra
This year MKO welcomed the news that An Bord Pleanála granted planning permission to our client Glenveagh Properties for their development that will form part of the Knocknacarra District Centre in Galway. This exciting grant of permission will bring 227 apartment units, commercial units and a childcare facility. Additionally, a community space will be part of the development which will benefit both the existing and future residents of the area. A new civic square will provide a focal point for leisure and social activities in Knocknacarra.
MKO provided planning advice and a detailed planning application, prepared an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) which included a Landscape and Visual Assessment and work from our ecology team, as well as the project management of this application while working alongside a fantastic design team that brought this development to the finish line.
SETU Waterford
MKO is pleased to have assisted SETU Waterford in achieving a grant of permission for a new engineering, computing, and general teaching building on their Cork Road Campus in Waterford City. The new building will provide five stories of new educational facilities including lecture theatres, laboratories, workshops, studio spaces, and administration offices. It will also incorporate a new atrium which will act as a central meeting place and hub of activity for the building and campus. The approval of the building will help SETU Waterford expand its programme offering and condense existing programmes onto the Cork Road Campus in modern, high-quality facilities. MKO is pleased to have provided planning and ecological services for the application and is thrilled to have contributed to this essential expansion to Waterford’s Third Level Education Sector.
Opening of new outpatient building at Merlin Park University Hospital, Galway
In November 2024, a new outpatient building at Merlin Park University Hospital was officially opened by the Tánaiste. This new building will support the relocation of certain outpatient services from University Hospital Galway to Merlin Park, improving capacity and creating a better environment for patients and staff. MKO is delighted to have been involved in this project, providing key planning and ecological services.
Tubbercurry Public Realm Enhancements Project
MKO secured planning permission via the Part 8 Planning Process for public realm enhancements within the town centre of Tubbercurry on behalf of Sligo County Council. After delivering the Tubbercurry’s Town Centre’s first plan, MKO progressed with one of the key elements of that plan: the Tubbercurry Public Realm Enhancement Scheme. The scheme seeks to reimagine the public space at the heart of Tubbercurry, creating a vibrant area for people to meet, shop, socialise, and live. The redesign includes an enhanced multifunctional public square with a covered space, traffic calming measures, reallocation of space to pedestrians, lighting upgrades, and bus set-down areas. MKO is pleased to have provided planning and ecological services for this project and is delighted to have contributed to public realm enhancements for Tubbercurry.
Planning outlook
Over the past year, significant shifts in Irish planning law and international environmental policies have redefined approaches to development and sustainability. In this section, we explore recent legislative advancements in Ireland and global environmental news that influence planning and environmental conservation strategies.
The Planning and Development Act 2024
The Planning and Development Act 2024 was signed into law by the President on the 17th of October 2024, after passing in both Houses of the Oireachtas. At the time of writing, the current Act of 2000 remains in place until the new Act is commenced, with the Government indicating that this will be done on a phased basis. Our LinkedIn post contains a summary of some of the key provisions of the new Act.
An Bord Pleanála status
Under the new Planning and Development Act 2024, An Bord Pleanála will be renamed An Coimisiún Pleanála, also referred to as the Commission. The new structure will consist of three distinct areas: planning decisions, governance, and corporate operations. To support these changes, staffing levels are projected to grow from 238 to more than 300. These adjustments aim to streamline operations, making the planning process more efficient and transparent, while ensuring decisions are made effectively.
COP29
The United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) took place this year in Baku, Azerbaijan between the 11th and 22nd of November. There was a central focus on climate financing with agreements being reached on tripling finance to developing countries to help them protect their people and economies from climate-related disasters and also sharing the benefits of the boom in renewable energy. Progress was also made on carbon markets and how they will operate under the Paris Agreement. Article 6 of the Paris Agreement allows countries to trade carbon credits, which are produced through reducing greenhouse gas emissions, to support other countries to meet their climate goals. Country-to-country trading and a carbon crediting mechanism have been made fully operational through agreements at COP29.
Renewable Energy
The rapid growth of the renewable energy sector has led to an increased share of Ireland’s electricity being supplied by renewable sources. Research from Wind Energy Ireland shows that energy generated from Ireland’s wind farms met 32% of the country’s electricity demand over the first 11 months of this year. Wind energy represents the highest proportion of renewable energy generated in Ireland. The analysis published by the Irish Solar Energy Association (ISEA) and KPMG found that around 390 solar farms are in various stages of development around the country. Solar energy is a fast-growing industry in Ireland, with the number of people working in the area expected to rise to 7,100 nationally in the next five to six years.
Wind and solar energy have vital roles to play in meeting our renewable energy and climate action targets, as set out in the Climate Action Plan 2024. Which include generating 9GW of electricity from onshore wind, 8GW from solar power, 5GW from offshore wind, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2030.
However, Wind Energy Ireland highlights the need to reinforce our national electricity grid, as their research shows that high volumes of renewable electricity are being wasted due to constraints on the grid. During the first 10 months of this year, 14% of wind energy production was wasted, as wind farms must reduce the amount of electricity they generate or shut down completely at certain times when the grid is not strong enough to carry it.
Local area plans and county development plans
Draft Portarlington Joint Local Area Plan 2025-2031 – 12th November 2024 – 24th December 2024
Issues Paper for the Bray Municipal District Local Area Plan – 20th November 2024 – 18th December 2024
Proposed Material Alterations to the Draft Dundalk Local Area Plan 2024-2030 – 6th December 2024 – 13th January 2025
Proposed Variation 3 to the Kilkenny City and County Development Plan 2021-2027 – 6th December 2024 – 17th January 2025