Planners decide on Dawn Meats factory expansion in Laois town

An extension to the meat processing factory in Rathdowney town centre has been granted planning permission.

Dawn Meats is approved by Laois County Council to build a new unit at their industrial meat processing plant, but with conditions to protect the environment.

The business can now construct a “Ground Floor Plant Room & First Floor Electrical Switch Room and associated external plant together with all Ancillary Site Works and Services" with a floor plan of 260sqm (2,800sqft).

The surface water was proposed to be drained into the public sewer but the planners have ordered that this must be instead collected and disposed of on site “in the interest of environmental protection”.

Other conditions as had been requested in a submission by Uisce Eireann (Irish Water), are for separation distances between any of their assets and the new development.

Also that any proposals to divert or build over existing water or wastewater services gets prior Uisce Eireann approval. That there will be separation distances between any Uisce Eireann assets and the new development.

The conditions are all to ensure "adequate provision of water and wastewater facilities".

The factory which is a big employer, is beside a pond which consultants recently suggested could become a public visitor amenity for boating, fishing and swimming if it was cleaned and enhanced.

The KPMG's Rathdowney Town Centre First Plan described the heritage mill pond as being “in poor condition, compromised by the location of a large industrial meat processing facility”.