Offaly concrete firm seeks retention approval for extension works

A local precast concrete company has applied for retention planning permission for office and extension works at its premises in Daingean.

The application for retention was submitted to Offaly County Council by Killeshal Precast Concrete Ltd last month.

It relates to the development of "offices incorporating conversion of attic rooms to offices, and first floor offices to rear," along with extensions to its manufacturing unit, storage facility, and concrete store.

Additional developments at the site, including storage units, canteen and toilet facilities, a steel storage shed, and a car parking extension are also included in the application.

An environmental report submitted with the application, and prepared by Dublin-based Malone O'Regan Environmental, stated that Killeshal Precast Concrete "has been serving the Irish construction industry since 1969 and has earned the reputation of being one of the most reliable precast concrete suppliers."

It said the facility in Daingean was "a built-up industrial development... comprised of office buildings, manufacturing buildings, storage yards, water treatment facilities, fuel storage tanks, warehouses and car parking spaces.

"While the site itself is an industrial setting, the surrounding area is largely rural and mostly comprises agricultural grassland, hedgerows and treelines and scattered houses and farm buildings," the report said.

Details of a noise monitoring survey at the site were included in the report.

It concluded that, although "no significant adverse noise impacts are likely to occur at noise sensitive locations as a result of the normal operations at the site," acoustic mitigation would be put in place.

It said "a screening berm measuring circa 132m in length, and circa 3m in height" was being proposed, in order to "provide acoustic screening to the dwellings located to the north of the site".

The proposed berm, or raised barrier, would be constructed "using excavated material on site, planted with native Irish trees and shrubs".

The company's activities were "not having an adverse impact on the receiving water" in the area, the environmental report found.

Public submissions on the retention application can be made until Thursday, August 24, and the council's decision on the application is due by Thursday, September 14.