Dawn Meats applies for extension to Kilbeggan plant

Dawn Meats has submitted a planning application to Westmeath County Council to extend its plant in Kilbeggan, and has also sought permission to retain three structures on the site. The extension to the food processing facility would span some 829 square metres, compared to an existing footprint of 5,136 square metres. The area subject to the retention application covers 224 square metres.

The proposed development will consist of an extension to the existing food processing plant that includes the construction of three blast chillers, decanting and box rooms, a cold store and an extension to the despatch area, all on the ground floor level.

It is also proposed to extend the existing box store at the first-floor level.

Dawn Meats Ireland, with a company address in Grannagh, county Waterford, has also sought retention permission from Westmeath County Council for a temporary canteen seating area, a boning hall production office and a dispatch office. The application seeks a change of use for the canteen seating area to a store.

The ancillary works which form part of the planning application include an overground water storage tank, concrete pavements to the perimeter of the extension and an underground drainage network.

The planning application was submitted on July 5 and Westmeath County Council is due to make a decision by August 29.

Members of the public have been given until August 8 to make submissions on the application.