2560577
Permission for development consisting of: 1. Permission for continued use of the existing quarry development currently permitted by P. Ref. 04/1479 and ABP PL20.215417 for a further period of 25 years, within an application area of c. 66.3 hectares, with an extraction area of c. 17.1 hectares and permanent overburden storage area of c. 3.9 hectares; 2. Permission for continued use of the permitted facilities consisting of: ESB substation (26m²), portacabin office facilities including canteen and washroom facilities (91m²), bunded fuel storage, vehicle circulation/access including wheelwash and weighbridge, settlement tanks/hydrocarbon interceptors for treatment of water, construction of overburden and screening mounds, all other associated site works and ancillary activities; 3. Permission for continued extraction of limestone using conventional blasting techniques and processing of rock using crushing and screening plant; 4. Upgrade of the existing WWTS and percolation area to new Secondary WWTS and constructed soil polishing filter area; 5. Provision of the permitted concrete block making facility and concrete batching plant, truck washdown facility with wash water recycled via a closed settlement tank system, the storage of aggregates; and workshop including storage room, canteen and washroom facilities (485m²) and 6. Restoration of the overall application site to a natural habitat including a permanent waterbody. An Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) and a Natura Impact Statement (NIS) have been prepared in respect of this planning application at
Core Refusal Reason
The application failed to provide sufficient environmental and technical information to rule out significant adverse impacts on residential amenity (dust and noise), the hydrological regime of the Ballyglass River, and protected habitats and species including the River Suck Callows SPA and Priority Habitat 6210.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The Planning Authority is not satisfied that the potential adverse impacts of dust and noise emissions on nearby sensitive residential receptors have been adequately assessed or mitigated, particularly given historical monitoring exceedances.
- There is insufficient information to determine the hydrological and ecological impacts of the proposed off-site dewatering to the Ballyglass River, which is hydrologically connected to the River Suck Callows SPA.
- The Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) contains contradictions and lacks sufficient detail regarding the protection of Priority Habitat 6210 (Orchid-rich calcareous Grassland) and the potential impact on Annex I bird species such as the Peregrine Falcon.