AstraZeneca had received approval for their €37 million plan to extend their manufacturing plant in Blanchardstown.
Fingal County Council gave the go-ahead for the ‘next generation’ expansion submitted by AstraZeneca’s subsidiary Alexion Pharma Operations International Ltd.
The development includes a brand new five-storey Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) manufacturing building at their 18.5-hectare site at College Business & Technology Park.
In support of this new manufacturing building, a new two-storey chemical materials store, a new four-storey laboratory building and a medium voltage electrical building will be constructed.
There are also provisions for extensions to the existing warehouse building, including alterations which were previously permitted.
Two yards are to be installed – the first, a chemical material yard, including a liquid nitrogen storage tank, scrubbers and a thermal oxidiser abatement unit.
The other a manufacturing building utilities yard including chillers and other miscellaneous plant and equipment.
There will be an extension to the existing high-level pipe rack connecting all existing and new buildings and yard areas and two new diesel generators and storage tanks.
Further modifications to the site were given the seal of approval, including the attrition of 200 new car park spaces on the eastern side of the site and the expansion of the site’s existing stormwater attenuation/fire water retention pond.
The development is projected to generate 105 additional jobs for the Alexion Biopharmaceutical Campus.
In documents submitted with the planning application, the development is scheduled to take 25 months for construction with hopes it will be fully operational from the first quarter of 2026.
The environmental impact statement (EIS) stated that the facility would use “the latest technology, ideas and digital innovation to meet the needs of the Alexion’s developing portfolio and produce life-saving medicine for patients worldwide”.
No objections were lodged against the proposal and the council approved the plans this month subject to 19 conditions.
Feature image credit: PM Group
