2560244

Construction of 3 no. digesters, 2 no. digestate storage structures, a liquid feed tank and 4 no. pump houses located in the northern section of the site. 4 no. pasteurisation tanks, a post pasteurisation cooling tank and a pre fertiliser manufacturing tank, located to the southeast of the digesters, in the centre of site. Part single-storey and part two-storey reception hall to accommodate a lab, panel room, tool store, workshop, and storage areas, with a liquid feed intake adjacent to reception hall, located at centre of site. Single-storey solid digestate storage & nutrient recovery building located to east of reception hall, in central portion of site. Odour abatement plant and all assoc. works. Construction of ESB substation, fuel storage tank, CNG compression unit, 2 no. CO2 tanks, CO2 loading pump, CO2 auxiliaries, CO2 liqueufactor, CO2 compressor, GFA, CO2 pre-treatment skid located in eastern portion of site. Construction of emergency biogas flare, biogas treatment skid, biogas compression system, biogas upgrading module, combined heat&power unit & panel room & H2S washing tower located in eastern part of site. Construction of grid offtake skid, biomethane boiler, grid injection unit & 2 no. propane tanks located to southeast of CO2 structures, in eastern section of site. Construction of two-storey office&admin building, located in southeast of site, adjacent to main site entrance. Associated works inc. parking, 3 no. EV, 1 no. accessible parking spaces;bike storage, access arrangements incl. new access point to site from adjacent road to south, weighbridge, provision of solar panels , wwt equipment, attenuation pond in northern portion of site, boundary treatments, lighting, services, lightning protection masts, drainage, landscaping & all assoc & ancillary works. EIAR submitted.

Refused

Core Refusal Reason

The proposed large-scale industrial anaerobic digestion facility is inappropriately located in an unzoned rural area without robust justification for its siting over available zoned lands, and it would create a significant traffic hazard on a substandard local road network.

Decision Maker's Conclusion

  • The applicant failed to provide a robust justification for locating a large-scale industrial operation in a rural area when suitable zoned employment lands are available nearby, contrary to Objectives CPO 16.13 and 16.14.
  • Insufficient information was provided regarding the specific sources and locations of feedstock, undermining the claim that the facility serves as a local agri-environmental solution.
  • The development would endanger public safety by creating a serious traffic hazard on the narrow L-6189 road, which has inadequate sightlines and is unsuitable for the projected HGV movements.

Cited Policies (CDP)

CPO 16.13CPO 16.14CPO 17.14CPO 17.23

Decision Document Summary

This application sought permission for the construction of a large-scale anaerobic digestion facility designed to process 90,000 tonnes of feedstock per annum on a 4.02-hectare greenfield site in the rural townland of Moneylane, Arklow. While the principle of renewable energy is supported, the Planning Authority refused the proposal because the applicant failed to justify the industrial-scale development in a rural setting rather than on available zoned land. Furthermore, the project was deemed ...
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