Albatros plant to be completely knocked this year

THE complete demolition of Albatros fertiliser plant eyesore in New Ross has been approved by planners and is due to take place over the coming months.

In a ruling in February. Kilkenny County Council approved planning permision for the demolition of the final section of the plant on the Kilkenny side of the 40 acre site at Raheen, Rosbercon. overlooking the river Barrow.

Permission was sought by Albatros Ltd c/o Thomas McDonagh & Sons Ltd on November 29 to demolish the building and further information was furnished to the local authority on January 30 by the Galway based company. The decision to grant planning to knock the remaining skeletal buildings was approved on February 19. The applicants seek to demolish all buildings on the Albatros factory site. Building materials are to be segregated and steel frames are to be removed and recycled. Concrete materials will be crushed and retained on site.

The reasons for the approval set out were as follows: ‘Having regard to the policies and objectives of the Kilkenny County Development Plan 2014-2020 and the location and design of the proposed development which would not seriously injure the amentities of the area, it would be in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.’

The public have around a fortnight to lodge an objection in relation to the company’s plans.

Conditions attached to the planning appplication include that McDonagh & Sons Ltd will have to submit – prior to the deconstruction phase of the works – a Road Maintanance Plan which includes street sweeping and cleaning in order to prevent muck and debris and any other materials interfering with the ‘safe operation’ of the public road. A Waster Management Plan must also be submitted to include the type and amount of waste being disposed of, along with a surface water management plan. Total dust emissions are not to exceed 350mgs per sqm per day and there are limits to the amouont of noise that can be generated on site. The demolition of the buildings is also to be carried out in a safe and satisfactory manner and all building materials and fuel shall be suitably placed and stored.

The company has five years in which to carry out the works otherwise the permission ceases to have effect.

Albatros Ltd director Matt Jennings told this newspaper last week that work will begin on site as soon as the final planning objections hurdle is cleared, adding that the company wishes to demolish all buildings this year.

Extensive demolition work took place at the plant last autumn following a lengthy hiatus. Several structures were torn down.

The plant has long been regarded as a ruin at the entrance to the town on the Waterford side, but once employed hundreds of people.

500 tonnes of asbestos was removed over a one year period leading up until April 2015, but works ground to a halt for around 30 months until last autumn.

Ballywilliam company J Ryan Construction and Demolition Ltd completed the vast majority of works on site.

Mr Jennings said there have been no noteworthy expressions of interest in relation to purchasing the site.