BREAKING: Tipperary community share relief as biomethane plant refused planning permission

Residents from the Killough and Holycross area have shared that they are breathing a collective sigh of relief following Tipperary County Council’s decision to refuse planning permission for a proposed industrial-scale biomethane plant at Killough Quarry.

The decision, issued on 6 February 2026, relates to a large-scale development covering approximately 6.3 hectares. The proposal by Roadstone Limited involved the construction of an anaerobic digestion facility designed to produce biomethane gas, electricity, fertiliser, carbon dioxide and water, along with extensive buildings, storage tanks and associated infrastructure.

In refusing permission, Tipperary County Council cited three principal reasons. Firstly, it found that insufficient information had been provided to allow for a full and informed assessment of the risks associated with the development, particularly given its classification as a Lower Tier Seveso site, involving the handling of hazardous substances. As a result, the Council concluded it could not be satisfied that the proposal would not pose unacceptable risks to the environment or to surrounding land uses.

Secondly, the Council raised significant concerns regarding road safety. It found that the application site did not include sufficient lands to achieve the required sightlines at the entrance to the public roadway, as set out in the Tipperary County Development Plan. The authority determined that this deficiency could endanger public safety due to traffic hazards.
Finally, the Council ruled that the Environmental Impact Assessment Report submitted with the application failed to meet statutory requirements, particularly in its consideration of alternative locations. This failure meant the proposal was deemed contrary to proper planning and sustainable development.

Local residents had campaigned strongly against the development, citing a range of reasons why the site was unsuitable. Campaigners stressed that they are not opposed to renewable energy, but believe clear regulation is urgently needed. They called on local councillors and TDs to advance legislation to guide appropriate siting of such facilities. Key concerns raised included potential impacts on potable water quality, as the site lies above a regionally important aquifer supplying water as far as the Limerick border, inadequate local infrastructure, air and noise pollution, and a lack of meaningful community engagement.

Alice Coman, a resident living near Killough, said the stress and upset caused by the application could have been avoided had proper regulation been in place before grant schemes were introduced. She said this would help developers choose suitable locations and reduce costs in the long term. She also highlighted the importance of statutory setback distances to ensure homes and residents’ health and safety are protected.

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Ms Coman thanked Tipperary County Council for its careful consideration of the application, noting that the authority sought further information to give the applicant every opportunity to provide clarity and fully assessed every submission received. She said local concerns had ultimately been validated, pointing to submissions made by the Health and Safety Authority and the Council’s final refusal decision.

She also paid tribute to the wider community effort, particularly thanking James Flanagan for alerting residents to the proposal and coordinating a local community meeting. “From novenas at Killough Grotto to messages of support, buns, and well-attended community meetings, it is clear that the community stood together and that people are deeply relieved their legitimate concerns were heard by state agencies,” she said. Alice expressed her gratitude also to councillors Jim Ryan, Sean Ryan, Micheal Lowry, Kay Cahill Skehan, Michael Brennan, Louise Morgan Walsh and TDs Alan Kelly and Mattie McGrath who made submissions on the community’s behalf on this application.

Further information and updates are available on the community website, Killough.ie, while public submissions can be viewed on the Tipperary County Council website.