A landfill site on the outskirts of Tandragee is facing fresh scrutiny from local residents after issues emerged around the permit holder’s regulatory financial provision.
A bid to extend the Lisbane Landfill on the Aughlish Road was submitted to Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council back in 2022 by Ark Enviro Ltd (now NWP Enviro Ltd).
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, 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.
In Northern Ireland, the permit holder for a landfill site is the operator responsible for managing the site, ensuring environmental compliance, and paying landfill tax. These operators must hold a Pollution Prevention and Control (PPC) permit issued by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA).
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 the Blue Sky at the time.
Residents and campaigners have repeatedly raised concerns around the landfill site managed by Blue Sky.
To date, the application for new landfill capacity at the Lisbane site has received more than 1,000 letters of objection, with the most recent submitted on February 2, 2026.
A 2025 community petition containing over 1,200 signatures opposing the landfill was also submitted to Minister Andrew Muir and ABC Council.
In the time that has passed since plans were first submitted, it has now come to light that the landfill operator and permit holder – Blue Sky – has been issued correspondence from NIEA regarding their financial provision.
Again, NWP Enviro Ltd, and the permit holder – Blue Sky Resource Recovery Ltd – are completely separate entities.
An enforcement notice – seen by Armagh I – dated June 2024 explains that notice was being served on Blue Sky by the Chief Industrial Pollution Inspector (or on behalf of the inspector) for “contravening” or being “likely to contravene” conditions of their PPC permit.
The notice explains: “NIEA have been put on notice that the power supply to the leachate and gas treatment plant at Lisbane Landfill, is to be disconnected on the 10th June 2024.
“The notification also places concerns around the financial viability of the company and its ability to meet the requirements of the permit. NIEA notes Financial Provision is not in place for the site and subsistence fees are also outstanding indicating a risk relating to the financial position of the company and its ability to meet the requirements of the permit.
“The matters constituting the contravention or making it likely that the contravention will arise are specified in the attached Schedule which forms part of this Notice, and I hereby require you to remedy the said contraventions or, as the case may be, the matters likely to give rise to the contraventions by taking the steps specified in the said Schedule.”
The correspondence was disclosed by NIEA in November 2025 in response to a local resident’s request, and then subsequently became the subject of a planning objection and, thereafter, wider community awareness and concern.
Primarily, those concerned residents wished to know: Had financial provision been restored by the permit holder?; Would the lack of regulatory financial provision be taken into consideration by the Planning Department?; If financial provision was not restored and the plans were granted for extension would this then fall on the ratepayer; and what safeguards are in place to mitigate future issues with the site?
It is prudent to note that resident concerns relates more fundamentally to the existing permitted landfill and, whether, in the absence of restored financial provision, any future closure or aftercare liability could ultimately fall to the public purse. Those concerns apply irrespective of the current planning outcome.
Said one: “As a local resident, I find it extremely difficult to understand how a planning application described as an ‘extension’ can at the same time be assessed as though it were separate from the existing site and its history.
“When you are dealing with a landfill that has been the subject of community concern over many years, the possibility that financial provision may not be fully in place for closure and long-term safety is deeply worrying.
“Ordinary residents simply want clear reassurance that the existing site is properly secured for the future, and at the moment that clarity does not seem to exist.”
Another added: “Most of us haven’t a clue about landfill rules – we just assume it’s all being properly looked after by those in charge.
“The thing that concerns me is not being able to get a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer about whether the site is financially covered if something goes wrong or once it’s closed.
“People in our community shouldn’t have to go digging for information just to feel sure the local environment is safe.”
A third resident continued: “People in our community shouldn’t have to question whether long-term safeguards are in place. We rely on regulators to make sure landfill sites are properly funded and managed.
“What’s causing unease is the lack of a clear public answer to a simple question: will the money be there to deal with any problems during the site’s operation and after it closes? Transparency on that point would provide real reassurance to the community.”
Armagh I contacted NIEA for clarity on Blue Sky’s financial situation. They replied only to confirm that the matter is “ongoing” and declined to comment further at this stage.
This publication then enquired as to whether the matter would be taken into consideration by Council’s planning department.
However, a spokesperson for Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council advised: “The Planning and the Pollution Prevention and Control (PPC) processes operate separately, and therefore the financial standing of the permit‑holding company is not a consideration within the current planning application.
“The Council is currently considering the application, and a decision has not been reached.”
Armagh I was unable to make contact with Blue Sky for comment.
