€25 million investment plan revealed for Banagher site

A whopping €25.59 million plan to extend a meat processing facility close to Banagher and create 110 jobs, has been lodged with Offaly County Council.

Banagher Chilling Limited are proposing a single storey extension to the existing abattoir, integrated wetlands and new site entrance spanning 50 acres on a site located 3.5km to the southeast of the town, at Boheradurrow and Meenwaun, 

At the end of June, Offaly Independent revealed how a Chinese consortium of investors proposed to develop one of Ireland's largest meat processing plants in Banagher, creating some 250 jobs during construction.
In planning application documents lodged with Offaly County Council recently, Banagher Chilling Limited says the development will comprise the refurbishment and extension of the existing abattoir on the site to allow a maximum slaughter rate of 140 cattle per day.
To achieve this, the developers plan to modify and lengthen the existing slaughter line within the existing abattoir building.
Additional cattle chills will be constructed along with offices and staff facilities such as changing rooms, staff canteen and administration offices.
The existing lairage, a place where cattle or sheep may be rested on the way to market or slaughter, will be also extended and the livestock yard increased in size.
In addition, the development, if approved, will see the construction of a meat cutting, packing, blast freezing and cold storage facility with an output of approximately 40 tons per day.
The building will hold processing rooms,  food processing factory, cold store, loading bay and chill rooms.
 

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External works to the site consist of staff car parking, service yards, and a new public road entrance including the widening of existing public road.

A new site entrance is also proposed. The current entrance is located of the single carriageway L3010 public road, subject to a speed limit of 80 km/hr. Banagher Chilling are proposing to construct a new entrance of the L3010 which will be widened from the junction with the R438.
The proposed design also allows for further phase of development. The site is currently being used as an abattoir and the adjoining lands are in agricultural use including agricultural buildings.
Banagher Chilling Limited's planning report sets out the economic benefit to the local community which states the total cost of the development is estimated at €25.59 million, creating employment for 110 people.
It supports its application through criteria set out under the National Development Plan 2018-2027, which aims to promote rural economies and communities which outlines their continued support for food companies adapting and optimising their production facilities, and under under the National Spatial Strategy and Food Wise 2015, which sets out a ten year plan for the agri-food sector.
A decision from Offaly County Council is due on August 28 next.