Council makes early decision on Ryanair's at risk €50m investment at Shannon Airport
Ryanair had warned it would move investment to Poland over 'planning delays'
RYAINAIR has secured a “fast track” planning permission from Clare County Council for the construction of a new €50 million four bay aircraft maintenance hangar for Shannon Airport.
In the case, the planning authority has issued the rapid grant of permission for the project that is to create 300 jobs after Ryanair warned earlier this month that it would move the €50 million investment to Poland if the project was subject to planning delays and bureaucracy.
The council has granted planning permission only six days after receiving further information on October 14 from the Ryanair firm, Wonderlight Ltd concerning its plan to erect a two metre high berm for the storage of contaminated soils at the hangar site.
According to the Council planning department website, the decision due date on the application was December 8.
On October 8 in a statement, Ryanair’s COO Neal McMahon said, “Ryanair is ready to invest €50m in Shannon and create 300 new high-skilled jobs but we will not accept planning delays or bureaucracy”.
He said: “This is a major opportunity for Shannon and the wider region, building on our existing engineering operation and supporting the next generation of aircraft mechanics. However, if Shannon cannot deliver this project on time, then we will move it and the 300 jobs to Poland.”
In placing the hangar application on hold last month, Clare County Council wrote to Wonderlight Ltd to say that it has “serious concerns” over the berm planned for a site south-east of the hangar.
The Council had told the Ryanair firm that it had serious concerns arise from the proposed berm’s proximity to sensitive environmental receptors including - indirectly - the Shannon estuary and the potential environmental effects arising from the construction and operational phases.
A Council planner’s report into the case, following the recent of the further information from Ryanair, stated that sufficient information has now been provided in relation to the management of contaminated soils and the design and integrity of the proposed containment berm, groundwater and surface protection measures.
Recommending a grant of permission the Council planner stated that the proposed development would not be likely to result in significant adverse effects on the environment.
The planning authority concluded that the proposed development would not injure the amenities of the area or of property in the vicinity.
The new four-bay aircraft Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) hangar at Shannon Airport will be Ryanair's largest aircraft maintenance facility in Ireland.
Ryanair currently operates a three-bay aircraft maintenance hangar at Shannon Airport, which has a workforce of over 200.
The airline said in July the new MRO hangar will form a key part of its ongoing investment in aircraft maintenance, operational resilience and engineering training across its network.
The Environ Consulting planning report states that “the need for this development is critical for the continued growth of operations at Shannon International Airport and will allow for the future expansion of the workforce and services being provided at the airport which will benefit the region as a whole”.
The new project will also include a new Ryanair Engineering Academy, which will see the creation of 80 new apprenticeship roles and support the training of over 400 additional aircraft mechanics between 2027 and 2031.
In July, Ryanair said, subject to planning approval, it expects construction to start in early 2027, with the new facility expected to enter operation in late 2028.