An Bord Pleanála refuses permission for grain facility in Cork

Agriland

13-06-2025

An Bord Pleanála has refused planning permission for a proposed grain storage and distribution facility in Co. Cork.
Comex McKinnon Limited, which specialises in the supply of Irish-grown and imported cereals and non-grain feed ingredients, had proposed to construct the development on a 3ha site at the Belvelly Port Facility at Marino Point, Cobh.
The original proposed development included a building for maize storage with a capacity of 18,000t and a general grain store building, with 20,000t capacity.
The development also included two weighbridges and an ancillary weighbridge office building, ESB substation, rooftop PV panels, perimeter fencing and the use of the existing jetty to facilitate cargo vessels.
According to the application, the maize and grain would be imported every two weeks on average through the jetty for cleaning and screening at the facility before being distributed by truck.
Grain facility
On December 19, 2024, Cork County Council refused planning permission for the development.
The local authority said that in the absence of 'satisfactory proposals' to upgrade the R624 regional road, the proposed development would generate traffic which would adversely impact on the road network and contribute to traffic congestion in the area.
The council also said that without a final detailed operational environmental management plan, it was not possible to determine that there would not be adverse effects on Natura 2000 European sites associated with the proposed development.
In its appeal to An Bord Pleanála, Comex McKinnon said the proposal represented an opportunity to significantly reduce the carbon impact of its existing road freight and logistics operations.
As the development would serve a single end user not on the rail network, the company said road transport was necessary.
Comex McKinnon said the relocation of port facilities from existing port facility in Kilkenny to Marino Point would remove 180kms of vehicle trips for each trip undertaken.
The application outlined that all vehicle trips associated with the proposal will be at off-peak times to reduce traffic impacts. An electric HGV fleet would also be powered through the proposed PV panels.
Comex McKinnon put forward an alternative option to the board which removed the general grain store with a capacity of 20,000t.
The revised proposal was for storage, processing and distribution of maize only, within an 18,000t facility.
An observation from a third party made to An Bord Pleanála said the application was premature pending road infrastructure upgrades in the area and would endanger public safety by reason of traffic hazard or obstruction to road users.
An Bord Pleanála
Matthew McRedmond, An Bord Pleanála senior inspector, considered the revised design to be a reasonable proposal to reduce the traffic and transport associated impacts, and the potential dust related impacts associated with grain processing and transfer.
The inspector noted the more recent refusals of permission for an agricultural fertiliser facility and a battery energy storage facility at Marino Point.
He said this proposed development is entirely reliant on a road network for its distribution, but the site currently has poor road connectivity.
The inspector said the heavy vehicles required for distribution would 'adversely impact on the carrying capacity of the road network serving Cobh and its hinterland'.
'It is accordingly considered that the proposed development of such a road dependant facility would be premature pending significant road improvements,' he said.
The board agreed with the inspector's recommendation and refused permission for the proposed development.