Plans lodged for 24-hour timber plant in Castleblayney

Fine Living Timber Frames Ltd has lodged plans to transform the former RB Coogan retail outlet at Lakeview Business Park in Castleblayney into a 24-hour timber frame manufacturing facility.

The proposal includes a range of upgrades, including office and staff accommodations at the Lakeview Business Park, extensions to the existing yard storage building, a new plant room and ancillary storage, revised car parking, updated boundary treatments, elevational changes, and new signage.

Fine Living Ltd, owned by Managing Director Ciaran Byrne, specialises is one of the region's fastest growing specialists in one-off timber frame housing. RB Coogan, the family-owned hardware store, announced recently it will close at the end of next month.

The announcement was made on social media. The business was founded in 1980 and the decision is down to the sale of the premises where they are based.

“We would like to express our gratitude for your business and support throughout the many years,” said the RB Coogan statement.

The shop, run by the Rice family, will now close for good on February 28.

Fine Living Ltd is based out of Fane Valley, Knockbridge, Co Louth.

According to documents submitted to Monaghan County Council, the Fine Living Timber Frames facility will operate around the clock, with deliveries and shipments scheduled between 7am and 9pm. Outside these hours, all work will be confined to the interior, with no external yard activity.

An accompanying noise impact assessment, conducted by Wave Dynamics Acoustic Consultants in December 2025, identified potential concerns over noise emissions. While preliminary results indicated that noise could exceed project criteria, the report outlines several mitigation measures designed to bring levels into compliance.

Recommendations include five-metre-high noise barriers around the loading bays, overhead screens, and a series of operational policies for staff. Measures include restricting vehicle idling, maintaining roller shutter doors in the closed position when not in use, using broadband reverse alarms on trucks and forklifts, and enforcing a 10 km/h speed limit on site.

The site is expected to handle two deliveries of materials per day and four outgoing shipments, a level factored into operational hours.

The development will meanwhile feature a combination of industrial floorspace, office accommodation, and storage. The revised parking layout includes 86 spaces.