Environmental group lodge appeal against data centre

A LOUTH environmental group has lodged an appeal against South Dublin County Council’s decision to grant permission for a data centre at the M50 Business Park on Ballymount Road.

Creighton Properties LLC’s plans include the change of use of a warehouse at Unit 1 into a data repository facility.

The proposal includes alterations to external façades, provision of a new 1,100mm parapet, reclad roof, internal alterations, and refurbishment of the existing office space.

Solar panels at roof level and an external plant at ground and roof levels form part of the plans.

Equipment is to include 12 condenser modules, an emergency back-up generator and associated fuel storage tank, a transformer, and an extension to the existing sub-station.

Provision of two sprinkler tanks and a pumphouse, a bin store, 22 parking spaces including two electrical vehicle charging points, and a bicycle-parking shelter is included.

The council granted permission for the change of use on August 3. However, on August 29, an appeal was lodged by John Conway and the Louth Environmental Group.

The appellant stated that the “extremely high electricity consumption” of data centres will increase Ireland’s carbon emissions “at a time when we urgently need to reduce them”.

They claimed there is a “disproportionate” number of data centres in Dublin, and cited an objective in the County Development Plan which states data centres should be located outside the M50 “insofar as is possible”.

A decision on the appeal has not yet been made by An Bord Pleanála.

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