By Gordon Deegan

An Coimisiún Pleanála is seeking fresh submissions from parties on contentious plans for a €40 million Chinese-backed meat processing plant for Banagher.

An Coimisiún Pleanála has written to Offaly County Council and other parties to the appeal seeking new submissions on the scheme.

The letter is the latest twist in the long running planning saga which dates back to July 2019 when plans were first lodged.

In the letter, An Coimisiún Pleanála, has stated that having regard to the High Court decision in this case, the quashing of the previous board decision and the passage of time that it is in the interests of justice to now request parties to make any further general submissions under Section 131 of the Planning and Development Act. 

In June 2022, the then An Bord Pleanala granted planning permission to Banagher Chilling Ltd for the proposed meat plant at a site located at Boheradurrow and Meenwaun, 3km south-east of Banagher.

However, this was subsequently quashed by the High Court after the appeals board consented to a challenge by appellants, Banagher man and self described “lifelong environmentalist”, Desmond Kampff and co-appellant, Gwen Wordingham against the green light for the scheme.

The two told the High Court that they brought their case due to “critical” concerns about the proposed meat processing plant’s impact on the environment. 

The applicants however indicated to the High Court last November that it intended to step in and defend the planning permission.

Now, the case is back before the board for a fresh adjudication with a decision due in August and the move comes almost six years after plans were lodged for the meat plant at Offaly Co. Council in July 2019.

The meat processing facility will have the capacity to process 40 tonnes of meat per day and have the capacity to cater for 140 cattle per day.

Offaly Co. Council granted planning permission for the proposal  in July 2020 but this was appealed by Desmond Kampff and co-appellant, Gwen Wordingham.

The number of animals to be slaughtered at the plant is to be 36,000 per annum and the board granted planning permission after its inspector in the case, Stephen Kay found that “the proposed development would not be likely to have a significant negative environmental impact in terms of climate”.

The appeals board granted planning permission after concluding that the proposal would be in accordance with national and regional policy on development in rural areas and the promotion of the agricultural sector and the rural economy.

The appeals board also found that the meat processing plant would not, pending the adoption of sectoral emissions plan, be contrary to the provisions of the Climate Action Plan 2021.

The appeals board also found that the proposed plant would not seriously injure the visual amenities of the area or have a significant negative impact on the lands and would not depreciate the value of properties in the area.

The board also found that the proposed plant would not give rise to a risk of pollution.