Planning board asked to rule on sterilisation technology facility

An Bord Pleanála will rule on the fate of a proposal to develop a major sterilisation technology facility on the outskirts of Tullamore.

Four appeals have been lodged with the planning board against Offaly County Council's decision to grant approval to plans for the 6,726 square-metre facility on the Clara Road in Tullamore. The council granted planning approval in late January, subject to twelve conditions.

The project by Synergy Health Ireland Ltd., which is part of the Steris Group, is for the provision of a sterilisation process facility, with an office block attached to the front of the building, and ancillary technical external rooms on a 3.1 hectare site fronting the R420 Clara Road, just north of the Applegreen filling station.

The project would have a maximum height of 19.65 metres and will be used to sterilise healthcare products. Synergy Health Ireland Limited, already has another presence in Tullamore, based at the IDA Business and Technology Park, and the application for a the facility on the Clara Road had attracted a number of objections from residents living in the area.

Appeals have been lodged against the planning approval by Enda Scally, Ballyduff, Tullamore, David McGettigan and Siobhán McGettigan, Woodland Cottage, Ballyduff, JJ O'Brien, Clara Road, Ballyduff, and Annette Molloy, Ballyduff, Clara Road, Tullamore.

Details of the grounds of appeal had not yet been made available online today (Thursday). The planning board is due to rule on the case by June 20.