GrantedInfrastructureDecided 9 July 2025

County Fingal & County Dublin

Major regional wastewater treatment project for the Greater Dublin area.

ABP-312131-21 · South Dublin County Council · Lodged 2 May 2024

Reference: ABP-312131-21
Authority: South Dublin County Council
Register status: Decided
Type: Strategic Infrastructure Application
Received: 2 May 2024

Summary

AI-generated

A Strategic Infrastructure Application by Irish Water for the Greater Dublin Drainage project. It includes a new wastewater treatment plant for a 500,000 population equivalent in Clonshagh, a pumping station, orbital sewers, an outfall pipeline, and a regional biosolids storage facility.

Infrastructurewastewaterutilitystrategic infrastructuredublin

Generated from the description above by an AI model and may contain mistakes. The council’s description is the authoritative record.

Official record

Development description

In accordance with section 37e of the planning and development act 2000, as amended, irish water gives notice of its intention to make an application for permission to an bord pleanála in relation to the following proposed development: the proposed development will consist of: the development of a new wastewater treatment plant, sludge hub centre, orbital sewer, outfall pipeline and regional biosolids storage facility and is referred to as the greater dublin drainage project. The proposed project will be located in county fingal and with a 60m section of pipeline in dublin city and is approximately 25km long and consists of the following principal elements: proposed project element outline description of proposed project element proposed wastewater treatment plant (wwtp) proposed abbotstown pumping station proposed orbital sewer route proposed diversion of the north fringe sewer (nfs) proposed outfall pipeline route (land based section) proposed outfall pipeline route (marine section) proposed regional biosolids storage facility (rbsf)
Regional wwtp to be located on a 29.8-hectare (ha) site in the townland of clonshagh (clonshaugh) in fingal
500,000 population equivalent (pe) wastewater treatment capacity
Maximum structure height of 18m
Sludge hub centre (shc) to be co-located on the same site as the wwtp with a sludge handling and treatment capacity of 18,500 tonnes of dry solids (tds)/annum
Bio-gas produced during the sludge treatment process will be utilised as an energy source for the wwtp
6no. Odour control units with discharge flues (discharge flue heights vary between 9m and 24m)
Access road from the r139 road, approximately 500m to the southern boundary of the site
Egress road, approximately 230m from the western boundary of the site to the clonshaugh road
Internal circulation roads and associated hard standing
Connection to the local electricity supply grid at the r139, adjacent to the junction with the proposed access road to the wwtp
Connection to the local gas supply network at the clonshaugh road, adjacent to the junction with the proposed egress road from the wwtp
Connection to the local water supply network at the clonshaugh road, adjacent to the junction with the proposed egress road from the wwtp
Landscaping and ancillary works
A temporary construction compound located within the site boundary. The wwtp will require a wastewater discharge authorisation licence in accordance with the requirements of the waste water discharge (authorisation) regulations 2007, as amended
Pumping station to be located on a 0.4ha site in the grounds of the national sports campus (nsc) at abbotstown
Abbotstown pumping station will consist of a single 1-storey building above basement with a ground level floor area of approximately 305m2 and maximum height of 10m and a below ground basement 17m in depth with floor area of approximately 524m2 incorporating the wet/dry wells
Access from the internal road network of the national sports campus at abbotstown
Associated hard standing
Connection to local electricity supply grid at the national sports campus, abbotstown
Connection to local water supply network at the national sports campus, abbotstown
Landscaping, and other ancillary works
Temporary construction compound adjacent to the abbotstown pumping station site
An underground orbital sewer, the route of which will intercept the existing sewer at blanchardstown and divert it from this point to the wwtp at clonshagh
13.7km in length; (5.2km of a 1.4m diameter rising main and 8.5km of a 1.8m diameter gravity sewer), constructed within the boundary of a temporarily acquired construction corridor
Manholes / service shafts / vents along the route
Odour control unit (ocu), located adjacent to the r122 at the rising main/gravity sewer interface, with 5m high discharge flue
Temporary construction compounds within the proposed construction corridor, at abbotstown, cappoge, east of silloge, dardistown and west of collinstown cross
The nfs diversion sewer will be constructed from the junction of the access road to the wwtp with the r139 road (dublin city council administrative area)
600m length gravity sewer; 1.5m in diameter
To be constructed from the northern boundary of the wwtp to the r106 coast road at maynetown (townland). It will comprise a 5.4km pressurised gravity sewer, 1.8m in diameter, and include manholes / service shafts / vents along the route
Temporary construction compounds (east of malahide road and east of saintdoolaghs) to be located within the proposed construction corridor
The outfall pipeline route (marine section) is to be constructed from the r106 coast road (at maynetown), and will terminate at a discharge location approximately 1km north-east of ireland’s eye (island)
It will comprise a 5.9km pressurised gravity tunnel/ subsea (dredged) pipeline, 2m in diameter
A multiport marine diffuser is to be located on the final section of the outfall pipeline (marine section)
Temporary construction compounds (west and east of baldoyle bay) to be located within the proposed construction corridor
Located on an 11ha site at newtown, dublin
Demolition of existing single storey structures on site comprising of a security kiosk (approx. 22 sq. M gfa), the weighbridge kiosk (approx. 19 sq. M gfa), an esb sub-station (approx. 16 sq. M gfa) and an administration building (approx. 85 sq. M gfa), together with the partial removal of existing internal roads and partial removal / diversion of existing drainage infrastructure as appropriate to accommodate the development
2no. Biosolids storage buildings, each approximately 50m wide, 105m long and 15m in height, including solar panels on the roof of one building. These buildings have a combined capacity to store up to 48,000 cubic metres of biosolids waste at any one time
4no. Odour control units, each with 18.2m high discharge flues
Mechanical and electrical control building (approx. 35 sq. M gfa, 4 m high)
Provision of a single storey site administration building for office, welfare facilities and meeting rooms (approx. 130 sq. M gfa) and associated staff car parking. Sheet 1 of 2proposed regional biosolids storage facility (rbsf) (continued) the proposed new orbital sewer will extend across the following townlands in fingal
Deanstown, abbotstown, dunsink, sheephill, cappogue, kildonan, part of huntstown, coldwinters, balseskin, dubber, merryfalls, silogue, ballymun, ballystruan, turnapin great, collinstown, commons, dardistown, toberbunny and clonshagh. The proposed new outfall pipeline (land based section) will extend across the following townlands in fingal
Clonshagh, middletown, bohammer, kinsaley, saintdoolaghs, snugborough, drumnigh and maynetown. The proposed new outfall pipeline (marine section) will extend across the following townlands in fingal
Maynetown and burrow. The proposed nfs diversion sewer will extend across the following townlands in fingal
Belcamp and clonshagh. The proposed nfs diversion sewer will extend across the following wards in dublin city
Belcamp the works necessary to implement the above will entail
Conventional construction techniques at the wwtp; abbotstown pumping station and rbsf
Open cut excavation along the orbital sewer route and along the outfall pipeline (land based section) route
Sub-sea (dredging) pipelaying techniques along the route of the outfall pipeline (marine section)
Micro-tunnelling (trenchless excavation technique) along the route of the outfall pipeline (marine section) route across the baldoyle bay sac and across the grounds of portmarnock golf club
Micro-tunnelling through the grounds of connolly hospital
Micro-tunnelling under 5 watercourses comprising (i) a tributary of the tolka, (ii) santry, (iii) mayne (2 number crossings) and (iv) cuckoo stream
Micro-tunnelling at 12 road crossings including under the m1, n2, cappagh road, r135, r122, r108, r132, clonshaugh road, r107, r124, r106 and golf links road
A 40m wide temporary construction corridor, along the orbital sewer route and the outfall pipeline (land based section) route
10 no. Temporary construction compounds, including associated site works, access to public roads, associated 2.4m high boundary palisade fencing (with noise barrier affixed) and associated ancillary staff facilities and parking; and
All associated and ancillary development including works comprising or relating to permanent and temporary construction and excavation site boundaries and landscape reinstatement works. As provided for in section 41 of the planning and development act 2000, as amended, planning permission is sought for a period of 10 years. The planning application is accompanied by an environmental impact assessment report and natura impact statement (nis). The planning application and the environmental impact assessment report and natura impact statement may be inspected free of charge or purchased on payment of a specified fee (which fee shall not exceed the reasonable cost of making such copy) during public opening hours at the following locations
The offices of an bord pleanála, 64 marlborough street, dublin 1 from thursday 28th june 2018 for a period of 7 weeks until 17th august 2018
The offices of fingal county council, county hall; main street swords, co dublin, k67 x8y2 from 2pm wednesday 20th june until 17th august 2018
The offices of fingal county council, grove road, blanchardstown, dublin 15, d15 w638; from 2pm wednesday 20th june until 17th august 2018
The offices of dublin city council, civic offices, wood quay, dublin 8, d08 rf3f from 2pm wednesday 20th june until 17th august 2018 the application may also be viewed/ downloaded on the following website: www. Gddapplication. Ie. Submissions or observations may be made only to an bord pleanála (‘the board’) 64 marlborough street, dublin 1 during the above-mentioned period of 7 weeks, commencing 28th june 2018, relating to
(i) the implications of the proposed development for proper planning and sustainable development, and (ii) the likely effects on the environment of the proposed development, if carried out. (iii) the likely adverse effects (if any) on the integrity of a european site of the proposed development, if carried out any submissions/observations must be accompanied by a fee of €50 (except for certain prescribed bodies) and must be received by the board not later than 5.30p. M. On the 17th of august 2018. Such submissions/observations must also include the following information: (i) the name of the person making the submission or observation, the name of the person acting on his or her behalf, if any, and the address to which any correspondence relating to the application should be sent, (ii) the subject matter of the submission or observation, and (iii) the reasons, considerations and arguments on which the submission or observation is based in full (article 217 of the planning and development regulations refers). Any submissions or observations which do not comply with the above requirements cannot be considered by the board. The board may at its absolute discretion hold an oral hearing on the application. (for further details see ‘a guide to public participation in strategic infrastructure development’ on the board’s website www. Pleanala. Ie) the board may in respect of an application for permission decide to (a) (i) grant the permission, or (ii) make such modifications to the proposed development as it specifies in its decision and grant permission in respect of the proposed development as so modified, or (iii) grant permission in respect of part of the proposed development (with or without specified modifications of it of the foregoing kind), and any of the above decisions may be subject to or without conditions, or (b) refuse to grant the permission. Any enquiries relating to the application process should be directed to the strategic infrastructure section of an bord pleanála (tel. 01-8588100)
A person may question the validity of any such decision by the board by way of an application for judicial review, under order 84 of the rules of the superior courts (s. I. No. 15 of 1986), in accordance with section 50 of the planning and development act, 2000, as amended
Practical information on the review mechanism can be accessed under the heading information cases – judicial review of planning decisions on the board’s website www. Pleanala. Ie or on the citizens information service website www. Citizensinformation. Ie

Key dates

Timeline

Application received2 May 2024
Decision due7 June 2024
Decision issued9 July 2025

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