Lakeland Dairies has received planning permission for an extension to its dairy processing facility in Killeshandra, Co. Cavan.
The processor applied to Cavan County Council for a single-storey extension containing a storage, packaging, and dispatch area with a link corridor to the existing production and warehouse building.
According to planning papers, the application will also allow for a single storey unloading dock extension, a 15 metre high silo, alterations to laboratory building, air handling unit (AHU) and the relocation of a transformer.
According to the documents, the Lakeland facility in Killeshandra accepted almost 170 million litres of whole milk during 2023.
As part of this planning application, the milk intake at the site will increase by 19% to over 201 million litres of whole milk annually.
The site currently operates under an EPA License and a Natura Impact Statement (NIS) with the application.
Cavan County Council has provided seven conditions attached to the extension.
Lakeland Dairies facilities
Lakeland Dairies announced it plans to close three of its facilities over the following months in order to cut overhead expenses.
Between now and the first quarter of 2025, significant change will be implemented across plants, with an understanding that about 78 jobs will be affected.
Milk drying facilities at Lough Egish, Co. Monaghan will close in June 2024.
Milk will continue to be processed at other sites, namely Lakeland Dairies Bailieboro and Killeshandra Co. Cavan, Newtownards, Co. Down, Ballyrashane Co. Derry and Artigarvan, Co. Tyrone.
The Lakeland Dairies site in Banbridge, Co. Down, which has acted as a butter churning and packing and powder storage site, with no milk being directly processed there for many years, will also close in June.