Kildare South Fine Gael TD and Minister Martin Heydon has said that the submission of formal planning permission by Diageo for their €200m purpose built brewery in Newbridge is a key step in progress towards this state of the art development for South Kildare.
Minister Heydon said, “Diageo announced plans for this significant investment in a carbon neutral brewery on a greenfield site in Littleconnell in Newbridge last July and they have now progressed quickly to submit their formal planning permission application to Kildare County Council.
“The proposed brewery will be the first built by the company in Ireland since the 1960s and will have the capacity to brew 2 million hectolitres of lagers and ales, the equivalent of almost one billion pints a year. It will be powered with 100% renewable energy and will harness the latest process technology to minimise overall energy and water consumption.
“Diageo’s decision to invest in this site in Newbridge is a huge vote of confidence in Kildare South as a location for investment and employment. We have a talented, well-educated workforce, many of whom commute to Dublin for work. I am determined to deliver top quality employment opportunities in Kildare.
“The facility on this 50ac site will be Diageo’s second largest brewing operation in Ireland after St James’s Gate and in the heartland of where much of the grain for their beers is grown. It will create up to 1,000 jobs in the construction phase followed by 50 direct, high-quality jobs once built with significant scope for further expansion.
“I have worked closely with Diageo in recent times in my role as Minister of State in the Department of Agriculture. The progress of these plans quickly to planning permission submission stage is another vote of confidence in the project. Subject to planning permission Diageo hope to commence brewing in Newbridge in 2024 following a construction period of approx. 2 years.
“The planning application will now be considered by Kildare County Council and a decision is due on 22nd December 2022. Submissions from members of the public can be made up to 1st December”, concluded Minister Heydon.
ENDS