Major clearance of ‘eyesore’ site in County Roscommon to pave way for new pharma facility

Planning approval has been granted for the clearance of substantial structures from a vacant site in Monksland, which is set to pave the way for the development of a new pharmaceutical facility.

Bobmar Ltd, the owner of the c.11.24 acre site on the R362 near junction 13 of the N6 in Monksland, has been granted permission from Roscommon County Council to carry out the clearance works.

Planning approval was given in 2004 for a technology park on the site but the development was never completed.

As a result, the site is currently occupied by a number of abandoned steel structures, including a partially completed warehouse and derelict single storey office block, stockpiles of excavated material, an office/store, an old oil tank and storage containers.

As stated in its planning application, Bobmar has taken a two phased approach to planning at this site.

The first involved seeking planning permission to demolish and remove the derelict structures, which recently received planning permission. The company has also been given the go-ahead to install new security fencing and security gates on the property, which has been the subject of antisocial behaviour.

“The site has been subject to vandalism and while Bobmar Ltd employs a security company to patrol the site numerous times daily, it is impossible to fully eliminate unauthorised access, particularly at night time.

“This will allow Bobmar Ltd to remove the eyesore that currently exists by demolishing the derelict structures, reduce the significant anti-social behaviour risk that currently exists and eliminate the health and safety risk of an unauthorised person entering the site and having an accident,” said the company.

The site owner intends to submit a second planning application comprising a detailed design to enable the Arran Chemical company, which has existing operations nearby, to develop a new facility of “major strategic value” to the area.

The applicant outlined that it entered into an agreement with the pharma company to prepare the site for acquisition.

In a letter attached to the planning file, Arran Chemicals confirmed that subject to “the appropriate level of technical and legal due diligence” and various conditions, the pharma company intends to purchase the site “with a view to expanding its operations”.

Bobmar’s planning application noted that it is envisaged that the new facility will likely comprise of warehousing, offices, laboratories and associated car parking.

“The Monksland site is pivotal for that expansion, which will see more employment created in the future,” said the company.

Arran Chemical has been operating in Monksland since 1998 and have expanded organically since then. In 2015, it was acquired by the Almac Group which views the Athlone area as a strategic location to expand its operations further.

Another element of Bobmar’s planning application, which sought permission for the construction of a new access road off the existing roundabout on the R632, was refused.

Raising traffic concerns, the local authority said it made the decision “in the absence of conclusive information regarding the future use and development of the site, and having regard to the current capacity issues at the M6 Junction 13 interchange, and the concerns and recommendations of Transport infrastructure Ireland.

“It is considered that the proposed construction of a new arm on the western roundabout to facilitate access to the site would create an adverse impact on the national road and associated junction, and would be at variance with official policy in relation to development involving access to national roads,” the council outlined.