Green light for Tullamore Dew distillery visitor centre plans

Ambitious plans for a new visitor centre and shop at the site of the Tullamore Dew Distillery at Clonminch, on the outskirts of Tullamore, moved a step closer to becoming a reality this week when Offaly County Council granted conditional planning approval for the project.

The plan to change the use of the existing three-storey ‘Three Sisters’ administration building on the Clonminch site into a visitor centre had been put on hold by Offaly County Council’s planning department last month pending the receipt of requested further information.

The further information request was made on foot of a submission on the planning application from Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), who had expressed their concerns that the project would “set a precedent and would adversely affect the operation and safety of the national road network.”

TII also raised concerns about signage, stating that the “prior written approval” of the company was required for the “erection, removal or modification of directional signs on, or related to, any national road” and the felt the directional signs planned as part of the planning application “could lead to a proliferation of such developments, which would adversely affect the operational efficiency and safety of the national road network.”

Concerns were also raised that the location of the signage in the area of the proposed development “where particular vigilance is required” would “endanger public safety by reason of traffic hazard” and also “the distraction of drivers.

In its response to the further information request, which was received by Offaly County Council for days after the request was initially made on August 5 last, the developers of the project, William J. Grant & Sons, said it proposed to omit the proposed sign” and stated that the one external sign at the main site entrance included in the original application “will not be installed on site.”

Among the conditions attached to the granting of planning permission is one stating that the shop on the site “shall only sell products produced by the developer and other ancillary products related to the whiskey tour” and that the shop shall relocated “to the standalone visitor centre upon construction.” The reason given by the council for the above condition is to “restrict a proliferation of shops on the site, and in the interests of clarity.”

Another condition attached is that no construction vehicles “will be permitted to park on the public road during construction works” and no loading or unloading will be permitted on the public roadway. “The road network shall remain unaffected by the construction works at all times” and this is “in the interest of traffic safety.

Members of the public have a four-week period from September 5 during which they can appeal the decision of Offaly County Council to grant conditional planning permission for the proposed visitor centre and shop on the Tullamore DEW Distillery campus in Clonminch.

The plan to build a new Visitor Experience in Clonminch follows on from the shock decision to close the hugely popular Tullamore Dew Visitor Centre at Bury Quay, in the centre of Tullamore, last September.

TII also raised concerns about signage, stating that the “prior written approval” of the company was required for the “erection, removal or modification of directional signs on, or related to, any national road” and the felt the directional signs planned as part of the planning application “could lead to a proliferation of such developments, which would adversely affect the operational efficiency and safety of the national road network.”

Concerns were also raised that the location of the signage in the area of the proposed development “where particular vigilance is required” would “endanger public safety by reason of traffic hazard” and also “the distraction of drivers.

In its response to the further information request, which was received by Offaly County Council for days after the request was initially made on August 5 last, the developers of the project, William J. Grant & Sons, said it proposed to omit the proposed sign” and stated that the one external sign at the main site entrance included in the original application “will not be installed on site.”

Among the conditions attached to the granting of planning permission is one stating that the shop on the site “shall only sell products produced by the developer and other ancillary products related to the whiskey tour” and that the shop shall relocated “to the standalone visitor centre upon construction.” The reason given by the council for the above condition is to “restrict a proliferation of shops on the site, and in the interests of clarity.”

Another condition attached is that no construction vehicles “will be permitted to park on the public road during construction works” and no loading or unloading will be permitted on the public roadway. “The road network shall remain unaffected by the construction works at all times” and this is “in the interest of traffic safety.

Members of the public have a four-week period from September 5 during which they can appeal the decision of Offaly County Council to grant conditional planning permission for the proposed visitor centre and shop on the Tullamore DEW Distillery campus in Clonminch.

The plan to build a new Visitor Experience in Clonminch follows on from the shock decision to close the hugely popular Tullamore Dew Visitor Centre at Bury Quay, in the centre of Tullamore, last September.