Go ahead given for five bonded whiskey maturation units in mid-Louth

An Bord Pleanála has upheld the decision by Louth County Council to grant planning permission for five bonded whiskey maturation units at a site in Dunleer, and has granted planning permission with revised planning conditions.

Louth County Council granted conditional planning permission in January 2024 to BAK Bulk Services Ltd for five Bonded Whiskey Maturation units of 4,073m2 each at a site at Red Barns, Drumcar Road, Dunleer. The applicant sought planning for access roads, over ground fire water tanks, landscaped soil berms and all associated site works all accessed through an established Whiskey Maturation Facility. 

BAK Bulk Services Ltd also indicated in its application that the proposed development would be classified as an Upper Tier Establishment under the Chemicals Act (Control of Major Accidents Hazards Involving Dangerous Substances) Regulations, 2015. 

An appeal against the decision was lodged with An Bord Pleanála in January 2024 by Alan and Irene Maguire, for reasons including, a "permission conditions anomaly"; "contraventions to Louth County Council Development Plan"; and "health concerns based on Governmental report".

An Bord Pleanála granted planning permission for the development on 27 February subject to revised planning conditions. Included in its reasons and considerations, An Bord Pleanála said that:

"Having regard to the provisions of the Louth County Development Plan 2021-2027, including Policy Objective EE 58, which supports the provision of whiskey maturation facilities within the open countryside subject to meeting the relevant requirements, the advice provided by the Health and Safety Authority to the planning authority in respect of the proposed development being a type to which Directive 2012/18 EU(Seveso III) applies, the planning history of the site and the surrounding area, the location, nature, design, size and scale of the proposed facility, and the established character and pattern of development in the vicinity, which includes an existing whiskey maturation warehouse facility on the adjoining lands directly north of the site, it is considered that, subject to compliance" with conditions it set out, "the proposed development would not seriously injure the visual or residential amenities of the area, or of the surrounding landscape, would be acceptable in terms of traffic safety, would be acceptable in terms of the management of risks to both human health and to the environment as a result of a major accident, and would be in accordance with the provisions of the Louth County Development Plan 2021-2027."

"The proposed development would, therefore, be in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area."