More expansion at Zoetis

Zoetis is seeking planning permission for another significant expansion of its manufacturing facility in Tullamore.

The new plans, which could add up to 90 jobs to the Tullamore facility at the IDA Business & Technology Park in Sragh, come hot on the heels of a similarly-sized expansion, approved in January 2022, and which is currently under construction.

Zoetis Belgium S.A. (Irish Branch) just before Christmas sought permission from Offaly County Council for extensions and modifications to its existing permitted project to comprise a 8,000 square-metre extension to the manufacturing facility given planning approval twelve months ago and which is under construction as well as a 754 square-metre warehouse extension.

Approval is also sought for a car park for approximately 60 additional spaces and 22 bicycle parking spaces.

The planning application noted that the “intent of the facility is to expand and enhance the emerging biopharmaceutical campus to include both clinical trial activities and production research activities.”

A planning report submitted as part of the planning application noted that since Zoetis acquired Nexvet Biopharma and its Tullamore site in July 2017, it has undergone significant development.

In 2019 a circa €2m investment that scaled up manufacturing was completed, while in October 2021, a €133m biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility, spanning 8,510 square metres was announced. Planning permission was granted in January 2022 for that project and work is underway.

The latest development represents a further expansion of the project, the application states. It involves a single-storey extension of 8,090 square metres adjacent to the approved manufacturing facility and which would add another 90 personnel to the 100 expected to be created by the first phase of the expansion.

The construction of the new project is expected to take some 18 months, with construction staff numbers likely to peak at 450. It is envisaged the new extension could be opened by 2025, subject to planning. The company said it was planned to build the development on “an accelerated schedule”.

Zoetis is described as the world’s leading animal health company. The company’s Cherrywood, Dublin, office is home to its local commercial operations for Ireland.

In addition to Tullamore, Zoetis has two manufacturing sites in Ireland in Rathdrum, Co Wicklow, and in Tallaght.

The company has been contacted for comment.