Planning refused for Portnablagh microbrewery

An Bord Pleanála has refused permission for the development of a microbrewery in Portnablagh.

The planning body has overturned a decision of Donegal County Council in December 2022 to grant conditional planning permission.

Developer Anna McElhinney had sought permission for the development at Rockhill, Portnablagh.

The application was for the change of use from a garage to microbrewery for the manufacturing and distribution/sale and all other site development works.

While Donegal County Council did grant permission, subjected to conditions, an appeal by Kenneth Bond, of The Lime Kiln, Portnablagh, was upheld by An Bord Pleanála.

At a meeting in late January, the Board, by a majority of 2-1, decided to refuse permission.

In its decision, An Bord Pleanála explained: “The proposed development includes a temporary on-site wastewater treatment plant, which is proposed to treat foul and grey water prior to discharge to the public network.

“Insufficient information is provided as part of the application in relation to the proposed works and such works are not identified or assessed within the Natura Impact Statement provided as part of the application.

“The Board is therefore not satisfied, on the basis of the information provided with the application, including the Natura Impact Statement, that the proposed development individually, or in combination with other plans or projects would not adversely affect the integrity of Sessiagh Lough.”

The site in question comprises a former petrol filling station and forecourt area, accessed off the

N56. It is currently unoccupied and the building on the site is in a derelict condition.

Donegal County Council subjected its granting of permission to 19 conditions, but Mr Bond appealed to An Bord Pleanála.

He said the basis for change of use could be questioned and asked whether there was a long-term ambition to create 'a more intensive use of the site, with reference to possible café, shop and public house type elements being incorporated in the future'.

He argued that the development as proposed was unsuited to the subject site, said it was 'unclear if there is adequate potable water to serve the development' and contested that run-off, light, noise and odour could affect wildlife within the adjacent Sessiagh Lake.

The applicant said that Portnablagh has suffered from business closures and this development was seeking to revitalise the building and would provide employment.

The applicant said a microbrewery would 'add to the village' and pointed out that works have been undertaken to preserve the building.

In a response, the applicant said there were no proposals to open a public house and said the development would not harm the amenity of nearby residents, noting that noise only arose from packaging, which would only take place one day a week.

However, an An Bord Pleanála inspector said in a report that in the absence of adequate details regarding the treatment/capture of by product and treatment of effluent within the on-site waste water treatment plant, they were 'not satisfied that the applicant has adequately demonstrated that wastewater can be treated on the site.'