Setback for Manna drone deliveries as council refuses planning

Drone delivery company Manna has been refused permission for retention of its delivery hub at Porter’s Rd in the Coolmine industrial estate in Dublin 15.

The decision by Fingal County Council is a setback for Manna, which is piloting drone deliveries in Cork city’s southside.

Some local residents in Cork have already raised the issues of noise pollution and lack of privacy amid the pilot programme.

In 2024, the company was refused retention by Fingal council for a drone delivery hub in Clonsilla and had to dismantle the structure.

Last year, Manna was similarly refused planning retention by Fingal council for a separate Manna delivery hub at Junction 6 Castleknock, and had to dismantle it.

In its findings on the Coolmine delivery hub, Fingal council said the noise impact assessment submitted by Manna did “not provide sufficient evidence to robustly determine that adverse noise effects associated with the aerial delivery hub can be avoided”.

It added: “In the absence of sufficient evidence, the aerial delivery hub by virtue of its operation results in serious noise pollution”.

The local authority found the development “contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area in addition to being prejudicial to public health”.

John Walsh, a Labour Party councillor in Fingal, said some supporters of Manna had claimed there was a grey area around whether drone companies needed planning permission.

“(But) It’s a black-and-white issue,” he said. “There is no question that planning permission is required, based on repeated decisions issued by Fingal council and three enforcement orders issued on three drone bases which Manna set up without planning permission.”

A spokesperson for Manna said this was an ongoing planning matter and the firm continues to operate in the wider area.

Manna began a pilot scheme in Cork in February, covering the southside of the city from a base at the Marina Market on Centre Park Rd.

Last month, Cork City Council’s planning directorate gave Manna one month to respond to a warning letter relating to the company’s development of a drone delivery hub at the site.

Last week, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said planning law around drone usage needed to be addressed. Currently, local authorities are responsible for zoning, land use, and planning matters on the ground, while the Irish Aviation Authority is the regulatory body for airspace.