Dead End: Longford residents fail in bid to halt pet crematorium development

AN Coimisiún Pleanála has granted planning permission for a pet crematorium in rural Longford, despite its inspector recommending that the development be refused.

The commission overturned the inspector’s recommendation following an appeal by residents against Longford County Council’s decision to approve the facility at Barneygole, near Edgeworthstown.

The application, lodged by Brenda McNamee, provides for the construction of a 58 sq m single-storey pet crematorium, the installation of a wastewater treatment system and associated site works.

Longford County Council granted planning permission for the development on January 14, 2025, subject to conditions. However, the decision was subsequently appealed by Barneygole residents.

In his report, planning inspector Gerard Kellett recommended refusal, raising concerns about the suitability of the rural location and the potential impact of additional traffic on the local road network.

The inspector said the proposed facility was not dependent on any local natural resource and had not demonstrated a specific need to be located in the countryside.

He considered that the development would be more appropriately situated on suitably zoned industrial or enterprise lands, rather than in a rural area.

Concerns were also raised about the capacity of the local L5172-0 road to accommodate additional traffic, with the inspector describing it as a seriously substandard minor road in terms of width and alignment.

However, the commission decided to grant permission following a meeting on September 18, 2026, concluding that the development’s modest scale and nature meant it could be accommodated at the proposed location.

In its decision, the commission said it did not share the inspector’s concerns about the road serving the development, having regard to the relatively low levels of traffic expected to be generated.

Planning Commissioner Paul Caprani said: “The proposed development would provide an appropriate diversification of existing agricultural activities in accordance with the provisions of Section 9.3.1 of the Development Plan, would not adversely affect the residential amenities of property in the vicinity by reason of excessive noise or air pollution, would not otherwise be prejudicial to public health and would generally be acceptable in terms of traffic safety.

The Commission, did not share the concern expressed in the original inspectors report that the road serving the development was substandard in form having regard to the modest levels of traffic generated by the proposed development on a daily basis. “The Commission had regard to condition number two of the planning authority's grant of planning permission whereby the facility shall be restricted to the cremation of small domestic pets only and the number of pets to be cremated in anyone day shall not exceed seven,” added Mr Caprani.

“While the Commission noted the inspector’s conclusion that a pet crematorium maybe more appropriately located on lands zoned industrial or enterprise, the Commission considered that locating a pet crematorium on zoned service lands in an urban area may place the crematorium in closer proximity to residential and other receptors which could potentially have greater adverse amenity impacts.

The Commission noted that the nearest dwelling was approximately 50 metres from the proposed crematorium chimney and considered that the separation distance, alongside the air dispersion and odour modelling submitted with the application, was sufficient to prevent adverse impacts.

The permission is subject to a number of conditions, including a restriction limiting the facility to the cremation of small domestic pets, with no more than seven animals permitted to be cremated in any one day.

The applicant must also comply with requirements relating to wastewater treatment, waste management, noise levels and landscaping.

An annual report detailing the number of animals cremated, the volumes of ash disposed of and any public complaints must be submitted to the planning authority.

The Commission concluded that, subject to the conditions imposed, the development would be an appropriate diversification of existing agricultural activities and would be consistent with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.