A €150m investment in a cheese plant planned by Glanbia Ireland looks set to be blocked by a court action from environmental activist group An Taisce, the Irish Farmers Journal understands.

The planned cheese plant at Belview, Co Kilkenny, is facing a potentially lengthy court delay after An Taisce lodged papers in the High Court seeking a judicial review of An Bord Pleanála’s decision in June to give the green light for the project.

The delay will come as a blow to farm families supplying Ireland’s largest milk processor as it will have a major impact on Glanbia Ireland’s ability to diversify its product mix away from cheddar cheese destined for the UK.

The proposed new continental cheese plant is to be a joint venture with Dutch company Royal A-ware and would produce Edam and Gouda cheeses for the European market.

Kilkenny County Council granted planning permission for the new cheese plant in 2019. An Taisce subsequently lodged an appeal against the decision with An Bord Pleanála in December last year. However, An Bord Pleanála upheld the decision to grant planning permission and An Taisce has now decided to take this matter through the courts.

Delays

The Irish Farmers Journal understands a meeting of Glanbia’s farmer council on Tuesday was told a judicial review, if granted, would put the project on hold for up to a year. The plant was originally scheduled to come on stream in 2022, but construction has yet to begin due to the An Taisce appeals.

When contacted yesterday, a spokesperson for Glanbia Ireland declined to comment, saying any possible judicial review of An Bord Pleanála’s decision was a matter for the courts.

Jim Mulhall, Kilkenny IFA chair, said Glanbia milk suppliers will be shocked to learn that a key Brexit mitigation project could potentially be blocked.

“This €150m investment in south Kilkenny will generate hundreds of construction jobs and a new market for milk from family farms. If this project is lost, the only losers will be farm families and the rural economy,” he said.

He expressed a concern that “we could see another Apple Athenry scenario, where delays in the planning and legal process could potentially lead to the loss of a valuable project for rural Ireland”.

The Kilkenny IFA chair urged Glanbia Ireland and An Taisce to engage in talks to resolve any issues.