A planning application seeking permission to extend an existing anaerobic digestion (AD) facility on the outskirts of Armagh is currently being considered by Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council’s planning officers.
Lodged by agent Manor Architect, on behalf of applicant Greencircle Renewable Ltd, the application seeks permission to extend an existing AD facility to include the infilling of an existing slurry lagoon and the erection of a new linear AD tank and a biogas conditioning plant 240m northwest of 12 Bracknagh Road, Armagh.
Permission is also sought for the erection of CO2 capture equipment, staff control room, new feeder tanks plus the conversion of an existing building to provide a nutrient recovery facility and provision of new CHP units, water holding tanks and extension to a plant room with all associated site works.
The application form notes the application for the 1.97 hectare site will see both the creation of new buildings and a change of use for others. It also confirms pre application advice has been received in relation to this proposal.
In terms of floorspace the proposed extension will see and additional 345m2 of space designated for ancillary uses added.
At present, four staff vehicles, three goods vehicles and one customer vehicle attend the site on a monthly basis. This results in a total of seven people attending the site on a monthly basis.
A transport assessment notes the site is in a rural area that is used, almost completely, for agricultural purposes.
“It is therefore reasonable to assume that the local road network experiences low volumes of traffic,” reads the transport assessment form.
“Furthermore, the vast majority of traffic will be agriculturally based vehicles.”
It goes on to explain that anaerobic digestion is a natural process where plant and animal materials are broken down by micro-organisms in the absence of air.
The primary benefit of anaerobic digestion is the production of renewable energy which leads to a reduction in fossil fuel usage with the creation of LNG biofuel, carbon dioxide gas and organic fertiliser.
The transport assessment form concludes by stating “the Bracknagh Road site is well equipped to deal with the vehicle trips for the existing AD plant” and claims the development will have “negligible impact” on the traffic in the surrounding area.
“This is due to the relatively low trips involved in the running of the plant and the nature of the surrounding road network being well equipped to deal with the required vehicles,” it says.
Lodged on November 17 last year, the application was validated on November 23. Its neighbour consultation period is due to expire on January 27 and its standard consultation period will expire on February 2.
The application will be advertised until February 10.
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