Kildare County Council has refused planning permission for a proposed biomethane plant in Ballyvass, near Castledermot in Ireland, following significant local opposition.
The application, submitted by European developer CycleØ, sought to construct an anaerobic digestion facility to produce renewable biomethane and bio-based fertiliser from organic materials such as manure, slurry, and whole crops.
The proposed plant would have required approximately 90,000 tonnes of agricultural feedstocks annually, sourced locally.
The development faced more than 200 objections from residents, who raised concerns over environmental impacts, traffic and road safety.
Kildare County Council cited several reasons for the refusal, including the inadequacy of the local road infrastructure.
The site is located on the L8050, which the council deemed substandard in terms of width and alignment, and unable to safely accommodate the scale of traffic expected during construction and operation.
The council also highlighted the site’s proximity to the M9 motorway, situated within 91 metres, which contravenes provisions in the Kildare County Development Plan aimed at safeguarding the safety and capacity of national roads.
In addition, the application failed to sufficiently assess hydrological and water quality risks, particularly regarding the River Barrow and River Nore Special Area of Conservation and associated wetlands.
The council concluded that the proposal did not comply with EU environmental directives.
CycleØ has the option to appeal the decision to An Bord Pleanála.
The company has previously stated that all environmental and planning considerations would be taken into account.
CycleØ’s proposed Kildare biomethane plant is refused permission
