Plant machinery auctioneering company gets green light for huge outlet in Portlaoise

A plant machinery auction showroom is set to be built in Portlaoise after an international company has been granted planning permission for a new outlet.

Applicant Tamar Selby Ltd, based in Northern Ireland, trades in plant machinery and is a subsidiary group of worldwide market leader Euro Auctions Group.

They have been given the green light by Laois County Council to develop a purpose-built facility in the council’s own National Enterprise Park in Knockmay, Portlaoise.

The facility will employ 54 people at full operation with 36 auctions planned each year.

Permission was granted to develop a showroom and auction arena and an office building with a proposed gross floor area of 2178 sqm (23,500 sqft).

The business also sought permission for a workshop building containing a spray booth, loading docks, office accommodation and staff welfare facilities with a proposed gross floor area of 3389 sqm (36,500 sqft).

The development also includes vehicular entrances, machinery storage yards, loading bays, a vehicle wash bay, car parking areas, street lighting, bicycle shelter facilities, signage, site services, landscaping works, including perimeter fencing, walls and piers.

It will have a stormwater management system incorporating attenuation tanks, nature based SUDs solutions, flow-control chamber, petrol interceptor, and outfall connection and all ancillary and associated site development works.

“The proposed development represents a significant and positive investment in the National Enterprise Park at Knockmay, Portlaoise. It will deliver a purpose-built commercial facility for Euro Auctions, an internationally established operator, creating substantial direct and indirect employment in the county and region in accordance with national and local planning policy Objectives,” said the applicant.

Euro Auctions is an internationally recognised, market-leading auctioneer of used industrial machinery, plant and equipment. The company was founded in Dromore, Co. Down and has grown to become one of the world's leading providers of unreserved public auctions for construction, agricultural, transportation and industrial equipment, with auction sites across Europe, North America and Australia.

The company currently operates from its established facility in Dromore where it conducts up to 8 live auctions and one internet tool auction per month.

Euro Auctions wants to expand its Irish operations and so will build a purpose-built facility in Laois that will serve buyers and sellers across the island of Ireland and internationally.

The council had sought further information from the company including details about its hours of operation and number of employees. They also queried details about parking, electric vehicle charging points, public lighting and requested a road safety audit. The company was also asked to justify the chosen location in the enterprise park for the business.

The application was granted planning permission with 23 conditions attached.