Pfizer to construct a freezer plant room in Grange Castle
MULTINATIONAL pharmaceutical company Pfizer has been granted planning permission by South Dublin County Council to build a new freezer plant platform structure and store building.
Pfizer Ireland Pharmaceuticals can now develop a new external freezer plant platform structure and single storey maintenance, repair and operations stores building within the existing construction compound.
Plans also incorporate 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 proposals.
In February, the local planning authority requested additional information from the applicant on three grounds.
Firstly, details on the infrastructure required to operate the proposed boiler water chemical dosing unit was requested alongside particulars around surface water attenuation.
The council was of the understanding that the proposed development presented an opportunity to enhance green infrastructure provision at the subject site and requested that the applicant provide details on existing and proposed landscaping.
Pfizer sent submitted the additional information in May and on June 1, 2022, county planners gave the greenlight for the plans.
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 manufactures medicines and the company confirmed in May 2021 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.
