The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) has stepped in to place a “hold” on planning approval granted to a controversial landfill site near Tandragee.
Permission was sought back in April 2025, by the applicant – Patrick Kelly of Natural World Products Ltd (NWP) – for an amendment to ‘condition 2’ at the site of Lisbane landfill to allow the addition of a waste code (EWC Code 20 02 01) for biodegradable garden waste and EWC Code 20 03 99 for “municipal wastes not otherwise specified” to be handled at their premises on Aughlish Road.
The company had already submitted plans back in 2022 to Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council for an extension at the site.
If approved, the extension to the existing non-hazardous landfill would make the site more than three times its current size.
For clarity, the applicant for the extension, NWP Enviro Ltd (formerly Ark Enviro Ltd), and the permit holder for the existing landfill, Blue Sky Resource Recovery Ltd (Blue Sky), are separate companies. Those involved with Blue Sky are not connected with the current planning applicant.
The applicant site on the Aughlish Road has caused a stink in the past – quite literally – and has been besieged with environmental questions in recent years.
A public meeting was held back in December 2022 after residents complained of foul smells coming from the site and NI Environment Agency, following site inspections, served an improvement notice on Blue Sky at the time.
Residents and campaigners have repeatedly raised concerns around the landfill site managed by Blue Sky.
To date, the application to extend the premises has still not been granted or denied by ABC Council and has received more than 1,000 letters of objection.
However, the company had recently been granted approval before a meeting of ABC Council’s Planning Committee for the addition of new waste codes, which in itself attracted a total of 67 objections, most specifically in relation to waste code 20 03 99.
A request was subsequently submitted to the Department for Infrastructure by a group known as ‘Tandragee Environmental Action’ for the decision to be called in for reconsideration.
Following the move, the DfI confirmed they had issued an ‘Article 17 Direction’ to Council which requires the decision to be “held” until it has received further correspondence from the Department.
For clarity, this does not negate council’s decision, rather, it prevents a decision notice from being issued for the time being. It is, simply put, an administrative pause on the decision notice to allow DfI time to consider Tandragee Environmental Action’s request.
According to Leah McMordie, of Tandragee Environmental Action (TEA), “DfI has said officials are currently considering whether the issues raised warrant referral of the application to the Department for determination and that TEA will be contacted again once a decision has been made.”
A Department for Infrastructure spokesperson said: “The Department issued an Article 17 ‘Holding’ Direction to Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, on 10 September 2026, in relation to planning application LA08/2025/0453/S54.
“The Direction prevents the council from issuing a decision notice until it has heard further from the Department. The issuing of this Article 17 Direction does not in any way commit the Department to calling in the application.
“Rather, the Direction provides the Department with an opportunity to fully consider a third party ‘call in’ request before the application is decided by the council.”
