The developers of a €150 million business campus in Shannon have expressed "serious concern" over three separate planning applications related to the €70 million expansion plan by Shannon-based pharmaceutical firm Schwarz Pharma.
Schwarz Pharma has lodged three separate plans with Clare County Council to extend the company's operations.
However, Westpark Business Campus - which lies adjacent to the Schwarz Pharma plant in Shannon - has told the council it has "serious concerns relating to the proposed development".
Four years ago, Schwarz Pharma strenuously opposed the planning application lodged by Westpark Business Campus. However, the German company's appeal was dismissed by An Bord Pleanála, which ruled that the application would not have an undue effect on the development potential of Schwarz Pharma.
At Ennis Circuit Court earlier this year, Schwarz Pharma was fined €110,000 and ordered to pay €42,359 in costs after pleading guilty to 11 separate breaches of its Integrated Pollution Control licence in 2004.
Last year, the company spent €10 million on environmental improvements and is to spend a further €9.5 million on capital works before the end of 2007.
In its submission on the three Schwarz Pharma applications before the council, Westpark states that "the proposals appear to constitute a significant intensification of a Seveso site in an inappropriate area with all the associated risks for human health".
Due to open the first phase of its €150 million campus shortly in an overall project due to deliver 1,500 jobs, Westpark states that "there is a clear requirement for an environmental impact assessment as to assess the environmental impact of the proposals".
A decision is due on the applications later this month.
