Novo Nordisk plans will create 1,100 jobs

DANISH pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk continues its massive investment in South Dublin County, seeking permission for a filling and packaging facility in Grange Castle West Business Park, adjacent to the Newcastle Golf Centre.

Novo Nordisk Production Ireland Limited’s plans include the construction of buildings with a total area of approximately 147,192 sq.m.

In June, Novo Nordisk acquired 85 acres of land at Grange Castle West for €51m in a deal hailed as “big news for the county and Ireland” according to South Dublin County Council.

The deal for the council owned land also included options for the pharma giant to acquire a further 21 acres, which will return back to council ownership in two years if it is not used.

According to documents reviewed by the Sunday Times, the filling and packaging facility would create up to 1,100 jobs—including 600 in production and 500 in administration.

The Clondalkin investment will likely exceed €2 billion, based on similar-sized developments by the company, the report said.

It will take between 18 and 24 months to complete and should be fully operational by 2026.

Novo Nordisk, which manufactures drugs Ozempic and Wegovy, bought a drug manufacturing plant in Athlone in December, as it looks to expand production to meet worldwide demand.

Ozempic is only licensed for treatment of Type 2 diabetes, not weight loss.

According to plans filed with SDCC, the infrastructure required to support the proposed development of the filling and packaging facility, include three three-level filling buildings, each sized approximately 10,637 sq.m and approximately 22.1 metres high.

Other infrastructure includes a two-level warehouse building with high-bay automatic storage and retrieval system area, approximately 18,655 sq.m and approximately 33.7 metres high.

Permission is also being sought for two three-level assembly and packaging buildings, one sized approximately 24,975 sq.m and approximately 17.9 metres high, and one sized approximately 24,175 sq.m and approximately 17.9 metres high.

A five-level administration building sized approximately 20,613 sq.m and approximately 28.5 metres high with roof-mounted plant and equipment and solar panels is included.

A four-level laboratory building sized approximately 4,733 sq.m and approximately 21.8 metres high and roof-mounted plant and equipment and solar panels form part of the proposal.

The submission includes a two-level pedestrian and materials spine building sized approximately 10,815 sq.m and approximately 15.5 metres high.

A two-level Central Utilities Building (CUB) building sized approximately 9,312 sq.m and roughly 17.7 metres, with roof-mounted plant and equipment including louvred screen, is included.

There will also be a two-level pedestrian and materials link area sized approximately 502 sq.m and approximately 15.5 metres high with roof-mounted plant and equipment.

A single-storey bicycle shelter and cyclist shower/changing facility building located to the west of the administration building, sized approximately 440 sq.m and approximately four metres high is proposed.

A single-storey fire water pumphouse sized approximately 75 sq.m and approximately six metres high is part of the plans, as is a single-storey water pumphouse sized approximately 200 sq.m.

A proposed car park of approximately 551 car parking spaces, including accessible car parking spaces, electric vehicle charging, motorcycle parking, dedicated car-pooling spaces, all accessed from the internal Grange Castle West Business Park roads, is included.

A decision on the application is due from South Dublin County Council by February 21.