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06 Sept 2025
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06 Sept 2025
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Council agrees to demolition of massive former Mink farm
Approval has been given for the demolition of a massive former Mink Farm in Laois.
VASA Ltd applied for permission to remove 74 buildings associated with the former Mink Farm from land at Ballymanus, Vicarstown, Stradbally in April last year.
The farming of Mink for fur was banned in Ireland in 2022. The farm at Vicarstown, Stradbally had been in operation since the 1960s and the total floor space for housing Mink amounted to 32,894 square metres.
Now the operator will demolish and remove 74 “mink farm related buildings” and surface water facilities.
The different types of buildings formerly used to house mink at the site are outlined in the application.
There are 30 Type A Mink House buildings which are between 25 and 116 metres long with a total floor space of 12,494 metres. There are 24 Type B Mink House buildings which are between 34 and 68 metres long with a total floor space of 6,831 sq metres.
A further six Type C Mink House buildings which are between 106 and 113 metres long cover a total floor area of 3,415 sq metres and seven Type D Mink House buildings that are between 108 and 120 metres with a floor space of 7,746 square metres.
There are four Type E Mink House buildings each 120.4 metres long and with a total floor space of 2,408.
Along with the Mink House buildings, Vasa will remove a staff building covering 22 square metres and two storage buildings covering 118 square metres. Together with the Mink House buildings, the total square metres of floor space is 33,036.
The planning approval will also cover the removal of four feed silos with an overall capacity of 1008 m3 and a 40 foot shipping container.
The plan includes the proper disposal of asbestos from the roof of existing buildings. Asbestos cladding is to be removed from a Fridge Building and replaced with concrete cladding.
Three of the existing Mink House buildings are to be modified in order to make them suitable to house cattle. There are also plans to bring in inert topsoil to restore the original ground level once the buildings are removed.
Laois County Council approved the plans subject to 20 conditions on January 31.
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