In July 2018, Western Brand applied for planning permission to Mayo County Council for the proposed demolition of three existing broiler houses and the construction of four new broiler houses with a total capacity of 100,000 places for broilers, feed silos and all associated site development works at Bekan, Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo.
As the proposed development fell above the threshold prescribed in Schedule 5, Part 17 (a) of the Planning and Development Regulations, 2001 as amended: “Installations for the intensive rearing of poultry or pigs with more than 85,000 places for broilers, 60,000 places for hens,” an Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) was required.
Panther Environmental Solutions Ltd. (PES Ltd.) prepared the EIAR for the project, to assess the potential impacts of the proposed development upon the environment and to recommend mitigation measures where required. PES Ltd. also prepared a Screening for Appropriate Assessment for the project, to assess the potential impacts of the development upon designated European sites.
Mayo County Council granted permission on the 17th of January 2019. As part of the Schedule of Conditions, Mayo County Council requested that a Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) be submitted prior to the commencement of construction works. PES Ltd. prepared the CEMP for the development, to ensure that construction works would be undertaken in an environmentally sensitive manner, and included the recommended mitigation measures outlined within the EIAR where relevant.
Construction of the new broiler houses
