The potential hindrance of constructing new data centres in Ireland could have a significant impact on the country’s economic future, warns Servecentric. The company has lodged an appeal with An Bord Pleanala against Fingal Co Council’s decision to refuse permission for a new data centre in Blanchardstown Corporate Park, Ballycoolin, Dublin 15. Servecentric’s appeal highlights a growing trend of Dublin local authorities rejecting data centre applications, regardless of the operators’ commitment to supplying power sustainably and supporting the national grid.
Linda Colleran, a Senior Planner at Tom Phillips + Associates representing Servecentric, emphasizes that while the proposed data centre is smaller in scale compared to other hyper-scale data centres in the area, it will undeniably contribute to the digital economy while prioritizing sustainable operations. Colleran asserts that the project will not result in additional carbon emissions and will have minimal environmental impact, aligning with Ireland’s progress towards meeting its renewable energy targets.
The local authority rejected the planning permission due to concerns that the proposed development does not align with the Government Policy Statement on the Role of Data Centers in Ireland’s Enterprise Strategy 2022. Previously, planning permission had been granted for a warehouse/logistics unit, and Servecentric sought to modify it for data centre use.
Colleran argues in the appeal that the Council’s planner’s report did not provide sufficient grounds to justify the refusal. She also states that there is no planning legislation basis to demand an equivalent amount of renewable energy or to require the development of new renewable energy infrastructure directly linked to the data centre.
Colleran highlights the potential positive impact of the proposed data centre on the local community, including generating employment opportunities, contributing to Fingal Co Council’s annual rates, and providing an avenue for local community investment. She confirms that a connection agreement is in place between the landowner and ESB Networks, and the change of use from a permitted warehouse/logistics unit to a data centre will not exceed the previously agreed power capacity.
In a separate letter submitted as part of the appeal, Brian Roe, the CEO of Servecentric Ltd, emphasizes that the company is an Irish-owned SME, distinguishing it from many other data centre operations in the country, which are predominantly owned and operated by multinational publicly listed organizations.
An Bord Pleanala is expected to make a decision on the case later this year, which will determine the fate of the proposed data centre.
