PepsiCo’s expansion plans at Little Island Facility in Ireland blocked
PepsiCo’s proposed manufacturing expansion in Cork has been halted following local objections over environmental and health concerns.
IRELAND – An Coimisiún Pleanála has refused permission for PepsiCo’s planned expansion of its production and warehousing facility at Little Island Industrial Estate in Ballytrasna, overturning a previous approval by Cork County Council.
The decision follows an appeal lodged by local residents, who raised concerns about the health and environmental impact of the proposed development.
The plans had been approved in April by Cork County Council but faced increasing scrutiny over the scale and potential effects of the project.
PepsiCo confirmed it is reviewing the planning board’s decision. “PepsiCo acknowledges the decision made by An Coimisiún Pleanála in relation to a recent planning application for an expansion of its existing manufacturing facility in Little Island, Co Cork. The company will take some time to review the decision and to consider its options,” the company said in a statement.
The company has been investing €127 million in its Little Island site, which includes the development of a research and development campus.
The now-rejected plans for manufacturing expansion at Ballytrasna involved adding 12,207 square metres of floor space over four levels, bringing the maximum height to more than 28 metres.
PepsiCo employs about 700 people at the Little Island facility, which has operated since 1974. Across Cork, the company now employs more than 1,250 people at its sites in Little Island and Carrigaline.
Fianna Fáil TD Padraig O’Sullivan, who objected to the project in a written submission, urged PepsiCo to engage directly with the community.
“It’s important that PepsiCo meet the local residents, discuss concerns, and adapt their proposal to ensure that future development plans can proceed for the benefit of both residents and employers on the Island,” O’Sullivan said.
The decision represents a significant setback for PepsiCo’s plans to increase manufacturing capacity at the Cork facility, which has been a cornerstone of the company’s Irish operations for decades.
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