Drone delivery plans hit turbulence in Dublin as locals object to noise

Gordon Deegan

Fingal County Council has stalled plans by drone delivery firm Manna Drones to retain its hub for Coolmine Industrial Estate in Dublin 15 over noise concerns.

This follows the Council seeking a raft of further information on the proposal including a comprehensive noise impact assessment from the applicants concerning the noise impact from the aerial hub.

Over 90 submissions - with the vast bulk opposed to the retention application - have been lodged with Fingal County Council.

In the request for further information, the council asked the applicants to address the concerns raised by third parties and, specifically, concerns related to noise.

The council states that the Noise Impact Assessment must thoroughly assess all noise impacts, including take-off and landing of drones, drone idling and noise from any ancillary facilities at the hub.

The Council has also asked the applicants to detail all mitigation measures to manage noise generated at the hub, and these include noise barriers or acoustic fencing; use of best available low-noise drone models on the market; optimised take-off/landing procedures to minimise noise and operational restrictions such as limiting simultaneous drone movements.

The Council said the assessment must capture the noise impact at properties receiving deliveries.

The planning authority has also asked the applicants to provide details on the frequency of drone movements, including the expected volume of flights on a daily, weekly, monthly and annual basis and a Transport Statement, which provides a commentary on the volume of ground traffic, trips anticipated to serve the area delivery hub.

One of those to object to the retention application told the council “the presence of a flying machine looking into your garden and your private residence like a menacing bird of prey is not acceptable”.

On its Coolmine planning application, a spokesman for Manna Drones has stated previously: "Our operations reduce traffic and remove substantial carbon emissions from each suburb we serve, which ultimately means more jobs, safer roads and cleaner air.

The application will become ‘live’ once again after Manna Drones Ltd has lodged the further information.