Plan to rejuvenate Kildare's largest derelict site back on after appeal withdrawn

A LOCAL councillor has received unofficial confirmation that An Taisce has removed its appeal against Applegreen’s plans for the old Cemex site in Naas, clearing the way for the €17m development, and upwards of 400 jobs.

“I got a tip that An Taisce was rescinding its protest (to the council’s decision to grant permission),” said Cllr Bill Clear.

“I sought confirmation with An Bord Pleanála, and an official there confirmed receipt of their (An Taisce’s) letter to remove the appeal,” he said.

“Fair play to An Taisce … I’m delighted this happened, because I put a lot of work into this site,” he said.

“I was the one put it on the (Derelict) Register in the first place back in 2019, which I think expedited their willingness to develop the site.

“This will be an iconic development, and make and make a much more presentable welcome to Naas.

“This was Kildare’s largest derelict site, and was mentioned numerous times by adjudicators in the Tidy Towns and IBAL (Irish Business Against Litter),” he said in his capacity as chair of Naas Tidy Towns.

“Naas is only two points from winning the national title, and it was a huge barrier for us to win that.

“Applegreen have stated one thing – that if they get permission they will begin demolition straight away.

“Once they get the letter from An Bord Pleanála confirming this they can start … expect demolition to begin in May, or at least in the very short term.

“This will be the largest EV hub in Ireland with 36 ports, all fast charge.

“Adjacent is the old Donnelly Mirrors site which was demolished in 2023, and is now a brownfield site, and we would also need to develop this very soon,” he said.

Donnelly’s is owned by a local concern called Edelvale Properties.

The decision to develop this almost 20 year eyesore of a former cement plant was granted to Petrogas — the parent company of Applegreen — on 7 March as reported in these pages.

However, within a month An Taisce – the Irish National Trust – chose to appeal this to An Bord Pleanála.

The €17m plan was build a motorway services and distribution warehouse on the 1.49Ha (3.67a), to include Ireland’s largest EV hub, with 36 spaces.

All this on a site that has been empty since 2007, derelict since a fire gutted most of it in 2012, and where the parent company first applied to Kildare County Council to re-develop for something similar in 2015.

This was granted in early 2016 but the company subsequently withdrew this application after an appeal against the €750,000 development levy failed at An Bord Pleanala, as Applegreen argued their responsibilities in this area should have been just €127,000.