Manna Seeks Permission to Continue Drone Deliveries in Blanchardstown

Drone delivery startup Manna has applied for planning retention permission to keep operating its aerial delivery hub in Blanchardstown, Dublin, after Fingal County Council flagged the site for lacking approval. The move comes as the company, led by entrepreneur Bobby Healy, faces mounting local criticism over noise and planning compliance issues, according to Independent.ie.

Retention Application for Junction 6 Base

Manna filed the application last week seeking formal retention of its hub located in the Junction 6 Health and Leisure Centre car park. The company has been using two of the 350 available parking spaces to launch drones delivering groceries, food, books, and other household items from nearby businesses. The request outlines proposed operating hours of 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week, with no new structures or changes in land use included in the plan.

In July, Healy denied wrongdoing after inspectors discovered the company was operating without permission. He emphasized that Manna’s operations offer a valuable service to residents across Dublin 15 by reducing traffic congestion and cutting delivery times.

Community Opposition and Noise Complaints

Despite Manna’s claims of strong public support—including hundreds of signatures backing the service—local officials have pushed back. Labour councillor John Walsh argued that a “‘Wild West’ situation was developing in Dublin 15” and called for “full enforcement” of planning law after receiving more than 100 resident complaints about drone noise. Walsh welcomed the council’s earlier enforcement action requiring the dismantling of the Junction 6 base, stressing that planning laws exist to “protect the rights of residents and to allow communities to be consulted.”

Dublin City councillor Janet Horner also noted that the regulation of commercial drone operations remains a “grey area” within current planning frameworks, underscoring the need for clearer national rules as drone delivery scales.

Funding and Expansion Plans

Manna, which has raised more than $60 million (€52.5m) to date—including a $30 million round in March—has ambitions to expand drone delivery across Ireland and beyond. The Blanchardstown dispute highlights the regulatory hurdles such companies face as they attempt to scale, balancing community concerns with the promise of faster, more sustainable delivery.

DroneXL’s Take

Manna’s case is an early test of how regulators, local councils, and communities will handle drone delivery hubs as they become more common. The company’s push for retention permission highlights the mismatch between rapid innovation and slower-moving planning laws. While residents worry about noise and disruption, Manna argues its service provides tangible convenience and environmental benefits.

If drone delivery is to scale in Ireland or elsewhere, governments will need to set clearer frameworks that balance innovation with community interests. Should drone hubs be treated like traditional logistics warehouses under planning law—or should new rules be written specifically for aerial delivery? Share your perspective in the comments below.

Photo credit: Manna