SD22A/0333
Construction of 2 adjoined single storey data centres with associated office and service areas with an overall gross floor area of 15,274sq.m comprising of the construction of 2 adjoined single storey data centres with a gross floor area of 12,859sq.m that will include a single storey goods receiving area / store and single storey office area (2,415sq.m) with PV panels above, located to the east of the data centres as well as associated water tower, sprinkler tank, pump house and other services; The data centres will also include plant at roof level; with 24 standby diesel generators with associated flues (each 25m high) that will be located within a generator yard to the west of the data centres; New internal access road and security gates to serve the proposed development that will provide access to 36 new car parking spaces (including 4 electric and 2 disabled spaces) and sheltered bicycle parking to serve the new data centres; New attenuation ponds to the north of the proposed data centres; Green walls are proposed to the south and east that will enclose the water tower and pump house compound; The development will also include ancillary site works, connections to existing infrastructural services as well as fencing and signage; The development will include minor modifications to the permitted landscaping to the west of the site as granted under SDCC Planning Ref. SD19A/0042 / ABP Ref. PL06S.305948 and Ref. SD21A/0042; The site will remain enclosed by landscaping to all boundaries; The development will be accessed off the R120 via the permitted access granted under SDCC Planning Ref. SD19A/0042 / ABP Ref. PL06S.305948 and SD21A/0042; An Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) has been submitted with this application.
Core Refusal Reason
The Planning Authority refused permission due to perceived insufficient grid capacity and the loss of significant green infrastructure; however, the Inspector recommends a grant of permission, concluding that the development complies with national data centre strategy, possesses a valid grid connection agreement, and offers adequate landscape mitigation.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The Inspector determined that electricity grid capacity allocation is the remit of EirGrid rather than the Planning Authority, and the applicant has successfully secured a connection agreement.
- Reliance on on-site gas generation is deemed acceptable as an interim 'flexible demand' solution consistent with the Government Statement on Data Centres, subject to conditions for future transition to renewable fuels.
- The loss of existing hedgerows is considered mitigated by the comprehensive landscape masterplan for the wider campus, which includes 1,052m of new hedgerows, extensive tree planting, and the creation of a public park buffer.