Green light for new €140 million continental cheese facility in Ireland
Glanbia Ireland, Ireland’s largest dairy processor, has welcomed the unanimous decision by the Supreme Court to uphold An Bord Pleanála’s grant of planning permission for a new €140 million cheese processing facility at Belview in south Kilkenny. The continental cheese production facility planned for Belview is a joint venture between Glanbia Ireland and international dairy firm, Royal A-ware, which is based in The Netherlands.
Once fully commissioned, the new best-in-class facility will have a production capacity of 450 million litres of milk per annum. Milk used in the production process on site will be sourced from local suppliers and the cheese will be marketed and sold to global customers.
Glanbia Ireland Chief Executive Jim Bergin said: “We are really pleased that we can now bring this project to fruition in conjunction with our partners, Royal A-ware. This project is in line with Government policy and is critical to our market diversification post Brexit. Getting the plant into production as soon as possible is now of huge importance to our 4,500 farm families supplying their milk to Glanbia Ireland every day.
“This significant project was due to commence production in March of this year and the two year delay is causing very negative impacts on our farm families. Our team is now focused on getting the plant into production for the 2024 season.
“We are extremely grateful to our joint venture partners, Royal A-ware for their patience over the past two years as this project successfully progressed through the planning and legal processes.”
The Kilkenny Cheese joint venture was announced in January 2019 with the intention to enter production in 2022. Kilkenny Council granted planning for the new cheese facility at Belview in November 2019.
An Bord Pleanála refused an appeal and granted permission in June 2020. On 20 April 2021, the High Court upheld the planning approval granted by An Bord Pleanála. After an unsuccessful application for leave to appeal to the Court of Appeal in July 2021, An Taisce subsequently brought the matter to the Supreme Court, which heard the case in January 2022.
As well as supporting the incomes of 4,500 farm families, the new Enterprise Ireland supported cheese production facility is expected to create 85 full time jobs and support 400 construction jobs in the south east.
CAPTION:
Jan Anker (pictured left), Chief Executive of Royal A-Ware Group, and Jim Bergin, Chief Executive of Glanbia Ireland.
