A €140 million cheese factory at Belview Port can go ahead, following a Supreme Court decision this morning.
It will provide 450 jobs in the construction phase.
The five-judge court had been hearing an appeal by An Taisce/The National Trust for Ireland of a High Court ruling that upholds An Bord Pleanála’s June 2020 permission for Glanbia’s multi-million continental cheese factory planned for Belview.
The plant is to be developed under a joint venture agreement with Glanbia’s Dutch partner Royal-A-Ware.
The appeal at the Supreme Court heard arguments that the potential environmental impact of annually producing 450 million litres of milk to supply the cheese plant should be treated as “significant indirect effects” of the development.
Neil Steen SC, for An Taisce told the court that the provision of some 450 million litres of milk to the plant each year raises “serious concerns” about Ireland’s greenhouse gas and ammonia emissions, as well as nitrate pollutants affecting water quality. More here.
An Bórd Pleanala and developer Kilkenny Cheese Limited disputed the claims, and the High Court decision was upheld this morning.
