Construction of two single storey data centres with associated office and service areas…

Application details

Planning reference

SD21A/0042

Council

South Dublin County Council

Proposal description

Construction of two single storey data centres with associated office and service areas; and three gas powered generation plant buildings with an overall gross floor area of 24,624sq.m that will comprise of the following: Demolition of abandoned single storey dwelling, remaining agricultural shed and derelict former farm building; Construction of 2 single storey data centres (12,797sq.m), both with associated plant at roof level, with 24 standby diesel generators with associated flues (each 25m high) that will be attached to a single storey goods receiving area/store and a single storey office area (2,404sq.m) located to the west of the data centres as well as associated water tower and sprinkler tank and other services; Amendments to the internal access road and omission of access to loading bay permitted under SDCC planning Ref. SD19A/0042/ABP Ref. PL06S.305948 that include the relocation of permitted, and new, internal security gates; and new internal access roads to serve the proposed development that will provide access to 39 new car parking spaces (including 4 electric and 2 disabled spaces) and sheltered bicycle parking to serve the new data centres; The development will also include the phased development of 3 two storey gas powered generation plants (9,286sq.m) within three individual buildings and ancillary development to provide power to facilitate the development of the overall site to be located within the south-west part of the overall site. Gas plant 1 (3,045sq.m) will contain 20 generator units (18+2) with associated flues (each 25m high) will facilitate, once operational the decommissioning of the temporary Gas Powered Generation Plant within its open compound as granted under SDCC Planning Ref. SD19A/0042/ABP Ref. PL06S.305948. Gas plant 2 (3,045sq.m) will contain 20 generator units (18+2) with associated flues (each 25m high). and, Gas plant 3 (3,196sq.m) will contain 21 generator units (19+2) with associated flues (each 25m high). These plants will be built to provide power to each data centre, if and, when required. The gas plants will be required as back up power generation once the permitted power connection via the permitted substation is achieved; New attenuation pond to the north of the site; Green walls are proposed on the southern elevation of each power plant, as well as to the northern elevation of the generator compound of the data centres, and enclosing the water tower/pump room compound, and a new hedgerow is proposed linking east and west of the site; Proposed above ground gas installation compound to contain single storey kiosk (93sq.m) and boiler room (44sq.m). 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. 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. An EPA-Industrial Emissions (IE) licence will be applied for to facilitate the operation of the gas powered generation plant. An Environment Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) has been submitted with this application. All on a site of 22.1hectares.

Location / address

Site within the townland of Ballymakaily, West of Newcastle Road (R120), Lucan, Co. Dublin

Application type

Permission

Received / registered

14 Dec 2021

Council decision

Grant Permission

Council decision date

19 Jan 2022

Final grant date

24 Mar 2022

Appeal lodged

15 Feb 2022

Appeal decision date

9 Mar 2022

Planning and construction timeline

Key dated milestones from planning, appeal and official building-control records.

1. Application received

   14 Dec 2021

2. Decision: Grant Permission

   19 Jan 2022

3. Appeal lodged

   15 Feb 2022

4. Appeal decided

   9 Mar 2022

5. Final grant

   24 Mar 2022

6. Construction commenced

   3 Jul 2023Official NBCO/BCMS data

7. Construction commenced

   17 Jul 2023Official NBCO/BCMS data

8. Completion certificate validated

   24 Feb 2025Official NBCO/BCMS data

9. Completion certificate validated

   18 Aug 2025Official NBCO/BCMS data