Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
A PLANNING APPEAL has been lodged to An Bord Pleanála (ABP) over two proposed data centres in Clondalkin, Co Dublin, which was approved by the local council last month.
The plan would see two data centres constructed in Profile Park in Clondalkin, a 125-acre business park which already houses data centres and is described as “Ireland’s data centre cluster”.
While South Dublin County Council (SDCC) approved the project in early August, appeals have since been lodged with ABP calling for the project to be scrapped.
Permission for the project was sought by Digital Netherlands VIII B. V., who are seeking a ten year permission to develop the site.
This would include removing an unused wastewater treatment system and constructing two two-storey data centres. In addition, the company proposed building a gas powered generator on the site to provide electricity to the two data centres.
The site itself, Profile Park, is a large business park where multiple data centres are located, with Independent Councillor Peter Kavanagh saying that the site was known informally as Ireland’s “data centre belt”.
According to Kavanagh, large multinationals like Google and Microsoft have data centres nearby, with the area well suited for their development due to the large open space and access to infrastructure.
Despite opposition from local councillors, including Kavanagh, SDCC approved the project on 2 August.
The appeal, which was launched by a Louth-based environmental group, says that the proposed development should not go ahead due to the “disproportionate” number of data centres already located in South Dublin.
It also says that the high level of water usage in cooling data centres would “divert a valuable resource away from the local community, a situation which is likely to get worse as water scarcity becomes more of a problem and population increases”.
In recent months, there has been additional scrutiny placed on new data centre developments, due to the high levels of electricity usage associated with the sites.
This is while Ireland continues to face issues with electricity generation, with Environment Minister Eamon Ryan telling reporters yesterday that the Government will do “everything we can” to avoid blackouts this winter.
EirGrid, who operate the Irish electricity grid, told an Oireachtas Committee that there was a “heightened risk” to Ireland’s electricity supply due to European energy supplies being “tight”.
The Government has also changed its stance on data centres, saying that there is only a “limited capacity” for new data centre developments.
It comes as a High Court challenge has been brought against a decision by South Dublin County Council to ban any further data centre developments during the lifetime of its 2022 to 2028 development plan.
The judicial review action has been brought by Echelon DC Holdings Limited, which develops and owns data centres.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Brilliant news for Cork City centre.
More offices and high density developments in the centre of Dublin and Cork please.
More parks and public amenities for our cities plesae. Dont want to live amidst shops shops shops
Andrew, go onto google maps and look at the size of the phoenix park relative to Dublin city.
Have you ever been outside ireland? Goolge ‘the world’. There other cities in it. And they have large green areas and not only shops shops shops
Yes they do Andrew, what planet are you living on?!
Wonderfull news at long last the Capitol gets going and the design looks great, my last abiding memory of the old cinema was when the Jaws 1 film was screened,just as the opening scene began with the young lady going for her midnight swim my seat collapsed, and the popcorn landing all over the front row couple,back then the old capitol cinema was a favourite meeting point.
Finally cork is getting a Brand shop they’ve class stuff
Let’s hope they replace those ridiculous looking street lights. The street looks very rundown, could do with some investment. Should be zero zolerance on the junkies and drunks that loiter that street.
Are you talking about O’Connell Street in Dublin by any chance W1K?? I spend a lot of time in Cork city centre and can’t say I see very many ‘junkies and drunks’ on Patrick’s street. Not that there aren’t any, Patrick’s street just isn’t where they hang out. It’s also not at all rundown looking. You do know that the city centre was redeveloped as recently as 2004?
No I’m talking about Patrick Street in Cork. Horrible part of the city. I saw many junkies and drunks here. A fight between 2 junkies outside BK. It’s awful place I won’t be rushing back to.
Well all I can say is I’m there a lot and have never seen anything like you describe unless it’s about 3 in the morning and you get that in any city. If you won’t be coming back, you’re missing out, but to each their own.
It was in the afternoon. It was intimidating for some. Something you don’t expect from a small town. I will be returning to Cork soon just not that area. Besides the drunks and junkies many of the shops were boarded up lots of pounds shops and fast food outlets.
The vacancy rate has plummeted downwards in the last few months so I’m afraid your info is a little out-of-date. Also, Cork is a ‘small town’? – that’s just being deliberately provocative so bye bye.
Hey bob mick fraud I see your alive and well
He is a troll lads wee all seen it on so many cork treads as different people as soon as cork gets good news their he is bringing us down
Lay off the bottle lad. It was a couple of years since my last trip Catherine. Will be back again around Easter.
I don’t recall ever seeing boarded up shops along Patrick St or Grand Parade, except during normal refurbishment. Are you sure that you’re talking about the same street?
2 words: Chip + Shoulder
Redeveloped recently and looks good (except ultra slippy paving stones which were suitable for Barcelona but not rainy Cork)
Make a lovely wetherspoons
London is a dump
Your right, parts of it is. Like all cities. It’s also one of the best cities in the world.
Like the look of it. Blends in nicely in the city centre.
Shame about the loss of the historic façades onto Patrick Street. It’s sad to see buildings that survived the 1920 fire going but I suppose it’s cheaper to replace them.
€50m on a cinema and no plan to improve the Cork/Limerick road
The government is not spending €50 million on this development
They’re only redeveloping the old cinema site, it wont be a cinema when it opens.
This is far too ‘swanky’ for Cork!
Wow finipops you really know your history!
Sounds like a good thing for the cork people. However I think the income being used to construct this cinema could go towards funding water charges
Gary, your glasses are on top of your head, use them to read the article.
Are you going to spoil every article today?
Godshite.
Great to see the Grand Parade getting a facelift. Anyone know which facades are being knocked on Patricks street? This development must be l shaped if it fronts onto both? I would have thought this would have extended back to Princes st as the rear part of the capitol would be near mutton lane no?
Build a hospital..Clowns
It’s a private development clown eile. Why should they build a hospital?
Ingenious, and then flatten the rest of Cork city center for a car park ;-)
Denise..you’re clearly clueless to the location..putting a hospital there would be like building an airport on O’Connell Street..
I’m not sure it’s reasonable to expect retailers and developers to take on responsibility for your healthcare needs, Denise.
As it happens, JCD did build a hospital a few years back – the Mater Private in Mahon.
I lived and worked in Cork City for years I saw the steady decline in business on Patrick’s street the likes of Game Mothercare Moderne amongst others then it was thriving now I think it’s lost it’s soul it’s just full of shit shops a lot of the other streets are not great either North Main Street Mac curtain street.
It
Your funny Garry
My funny valentine!
More electioneering, again?
50m for a cinema FFS!
It USED to be a cinema. It is NOT being redeveloped as one!
50 million for a cinema is crazy money, Brian Brian. How could they possibly justify that? Crazy.
Codology..its in the middle of Cork city ffs…it was hardly going to come free with a Big Mac meal was it?
Oh ffs, I was trying to wind Brian Brian uo. Jesus man. It’s Friday eve. Have a spliff and chill out.
have your say