Construction BUSINESS

An Bord Pleanála has granted planning permission for Irish Water’s Greater Dublin Drainage (GDD) Project in North Dublin. Once operational, this key piece of infrastructure will safeguard the environment and facilitate sustainable growth of new homes and businesses in the region.

Projected growth in population and increased commercial activity means the volume of wastewater generated in the greater Dublin area will increase by more than 50% during the next 30 years. Having adequate wastewater treatment capacity is vital to protect public health, safeguard the environment and facilitate this social and economic growth.

Seán Laffey, Head of Asset Management, said: “The announcement is a landmark planning decision for the sustainable growth of the Dublin area. The GDD project is vital for residential and commercial development across north Dublin and south Fingal. New homes and businesses can only be built with new wastewater infrastructure to support them. GDD will also alleviate pressure within the wider wastewater network. It will help to ensure that the wastewater generated every day in our homes, schools and workplaces is treated safely, in compliance with the EU and national wastewater treatment regulations.”

An underground pipeline beginning at Blanchardstown will collect and transfer wastewater, via a new pumping station at Abbotstown, north of the M50 to an advanced wastewater treatment facility to be located in the townland of Clonshaugh.  The treated water will be safely returned to the Irish Sea via a 6 km marine outfall pipeline from Baldoyle to a point 1 km north east of Ireland’s Eye.

The project also includes development of necessary facilities that will ensure the effective running of the new wastewater treatment plant. These will include a regional sludge treatment centre at the GDD site and an associated biosolids storage facility at Newtown near Kilshane Cross.

The delivery of the GDD project is a key investment priority under Project Ireland 2040 and is a key objective of the regional guidelines and local development plans.  Progressing this major infrastructural project has been a priority for Irish Water since it took responsibility for water and wastewater services in 2014.  Achieving planning consent is an important milestone in the delivery of this essential project.

Irish Water will now progress with a detailed design and contractor procurement process. When this is complete, the construction stage is expected to take three years.

Seán Laffey said: “I want to acknowledge the previous work of Fingal County Council in bringing the GDD project through the early stages and to thank all of the individuals and organisations who took part in the extensive consultations on this project to date.”

It is intended that Dublin’s new regional wastewater treatment facility and associated infrastructure will become operational from 2026 and will have the capacity to provide wastewater treatment for the equivalent of half a million people living and working in this area into the future.