Abbott extension approved after unsuccessful appeal
Abbott has been given the green light for an extension to its manufacturing facility outside Cootehill following an appeal.
Monaghan County Council approved plans for a three-storey tower extension last April with some conditions including measures to control wastewater from the site during construction.
The development comprised extensions to housing laboratory and office space and staff facilities. A three-storey tower extension would house ingredient storage. Its overall height would surpass the factory building on site but would be lower than existing storage towers at the facility.
Works would also include 22 car parking spaces to the south of the factory building, 21 bicycle parking spaces and 69 more car parking spaces to the rear of the existing carpark. Included are nine electric car charging spots and four disabled spaces.
The approval by Monaghan County Council was subsequently appealed by John Morehart, the American owner of nearby Bellamont House and forest.
In his submission to An Bord Pleanála (ABP), Mr Morehart claimed there were errors in supporting documentation furnished as part of the original planning application. He also contended further information on the plans given to Monaghan County Council, when requested, was insufficient.
Concerns over the potential impact on local biodiversity and waterways were also raised. Mr Morehart claimed sections of reports submitted with the application, including the environmental impact assessment, were not of the necessary standard to allow a fully informed decision on the plans.
Environmental protection body An Taisce also raised concerns about the treatment of waste water from the site, calling for more clarity. It also said there was no assessment of the sustainability of milk supply chain effects on water quality, biodiversity loss, greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution from ammonia.
Abbott said the approval of this new extension would allow for a reduction in water usage during the processing of its infant formula, which is produced on site. It said the space would allow for the installation of new machinery, which would result in a drop of around 11% in its overall energy consumption at the site.
A drop of 30% is expected in the amount of water taken from the Dromore River, which passes the facility. Streamlined production processes and the construction of a new wastewater treatment plant at the site will lead to the reduction in the amount of water to be abstracted from the river.
In its submission to ABP, Monaghan County Council said the grounds of appeal claimed by Mr Morehart “do not raise any substantive new issues that have not been addressed”.
It said it is satisfied the project would not have a detrimental impact on habitats outside of the site.
In considering the appeal, ABP inspector Deirdre MacGabhann said no evidence had been given by Mr Morehart to support his claim the planning application was invalid.
“I note that the appellant does not detail how the application does not satisfy these requirements.”
She also rejected other claims concerning the validity of the original planning application and noted the expected reduction in water usage.
Ms MacGabhann recommended the board approve the planning application as the development “provides for no increase in production capacity and its location within an existing industrial and manufacturing facility”.
The bord approved the development in principle but deemed the 69 car parking spaces planned for the rear of the site were not justified as there would be no additional employees hired after the extension was completed. The number of parking spaces at the front is to be reduced to 16 to replace those lost by the building of the extension.
Revised plans must now be submitted to Monaghan County Council.
Seven other conditions were attached to the approval, including the need for archaeological recording of the site and plans for surface water runoff.
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