Pfizer lodge plans for new freezer plant structure at Grange Castle

MULTINATIONAL pharmaceutical company Pfizer has applied for permission from South Dublin County Council to build a new freezer plant platform structure and store building.

A research-based pharmaceutical company, Pfizer was one of the first to locate in Ireland when it did in 1969.

Pfizer opened a €1.8 billion biotechnology plant at Grange Castle in 2005, expanding it two years later.

The Irish operations arm manufacture medicines and the company confirmed in May that it will be producing COVID-19 vaccines at its Grange Castle Business Park facility.

The pharma giant said since Pfizer and BioNTech started distributing their Covid-19 vaccine in December 2020, the companies have made several enhancements to the vaccine’s supply chain.

As reported in The Echo, the Grange Castle facility is set to be upgraded through an investment of €32.7 million with 75 additional roles to be recruited as part of the expansion.

Now, Pfizer Ireland Pharmaceuticals is seeking permission to develop a new external freezer plant platform structure and single storey maintenance, repair and operations stores building within the existing construction compound.

Proposals also include an external data centre unit to the south of the existing manufacturing suites building with relocated double emergency exit doors as well as an airlock extension.

A pallet storage building adjacent to the existing drum store west building within the utility yard and boiler water chemical dosing unit with the CUB yard makes up the remainder of the plans.

There is provision for “all associated site works”.

South Dublin County Council received the planning application seeking permission on December 17.

Third parties can make submissions in relation to this planning application up to and including on February 1, 2022.

The local planning authority is set to make a decision on the plans by February 21, 2022.

Pfizer was ranked 16th in Ireland’s Top 1000 companies with a turnover of €7.4 billion and third in the pharma category.

It is estimated that Pfizer increased its number of employees from 3,700 to 4,000 worldwide in 2020.