Regeneron facing new challenge to bio plant

A SOLE would-be objector is seeking to halt US biotechnology giant Regeneron’s ambitious expansion plans at its Raheen campus in Limerick.

Michael Fenton has applied for leave to An Bord Pleanála to appeal the decision by Limerick County Council that gave the go-ahead to the biopharma firm for a new €20m bulk biologics facility.

Mr Fenton has made the application to appeal the decision as he didn’t object to the proposal when it was before Limerick County Council.

The board is expected to make a ruling in the matter at the end of this month and if it finds in Mr Fenton’s favour, an appeal could delay the proposal by a further four to six months.

In planning documents lodged with Limerick Co Council, Regeneron has stated that the facility will employ 150 when up and running while an additional 500 people will be employed during the three-year construction phase.

The company has told the council that the staff profile at the new plant will consist of a significant proportion of third-level graduates while the staff will also be made up of people from the local area and outside including people relocating back to Ireland.

Regeneron states that based on the 150 permanent jobs, an additional 137 jobs will be created in the service industry.

Regeneron – one of the sites of the former Dell facility – continues to go from strength to strength here.

Last October, the firm announced an additional 300 jobs and investment of $100m, bringing the total expected employment at the site to 800 people and total investment to $750m.