Neill O’Neill
neilloneill@mayonews.ie
FOLLOWING the announcement in January that they are to expand their biologics manufacturing capacity at their Westport facility in a $350 million investment, Allergan Pharmaceuticals have published a notice signalling their intention to apply to Mayo County Council for permission for the development at Gortaroe, Westport (to the rear of the existing plant).
The notice outlines that the development will consist of the construction of an overall floor area of 15,677 sq meters, consisting of a three-storey office block with a floor area of 3456 sq meters and a height of 16 meters, a production hall and plant rooms with a floor area of 8,705 sq meters, and a warehouse and ancillary accommodation.
The notice also states that the works will incorporate the relocation of an existing local access road and the construction of a new circulation route to the existing Allergan facility, together with the provision of 223 car parking spaces. Other cycle and pedestrian lanes will also be developed, along with a pedestrian link bridge of 140 sq meters and a height of 8.8 meters to the existing multi-agency enterprise building.
Approximately 200 jobs will be created by Allergan when this new facility is operational, along with up to 250 indirect jobs locally, during the construction period.
The news was officially announced yesterday by An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny in January, who called it a ‘huge confidence boost for Westport and the entire region’.
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