An Bord Pleanála have granted permission to a new €87 million data centre development at Huntstown Power Station, following an appeals process.
The project, proposed by the Energia Group subsidiary, sees the construction of two data buildings on the land in Finglas, Co Dublin.
The data centres will be in collaboration with Microsoft.
The buildings will comprise data hall rooms, mechanical and electrical galleries and other offices, including meeting rooms and workshop spaces.
The building will also feature staff areas such as break rooms, toilets, shower/changing facilities, storage areas, lobbies, outdoor staff areas, loading bays and docks.
The buildings will rise up to three storeys with a gross floor area of C.37,647sqm.
The overall height will not exceed 112m above sea level.
An external plant with 58 emergency generators will be in a generator yard.
An Bord Pleanála have granted permission to a new €87 million data centre development at Huntstown Power Station. Credit: Henry J Lyons Architects
To make way for the data centres, the plan sees the demolition of two residential dwellings on the site.
Developers have included provisions for a temporary substation, a water treatment building, seven water storage tanks and two sprinkler tanks.
Existing overhead electricity lines will move underground.
Developers will install security fencing up to 2.4m high and new vehicular entrance from the North Road.
More access will be at the southwest of the site from an existing private road.
Plans are in place for 48 bicycle spaces and 208 parking spaces, including 10 accessible spaces.
A further 20 EV charging spaces and eight motorcycle spaces are envisioned.
An Bord Pleanála’s Decision
Huntstown Power Company initially put forward plans on August 24 2021.
Permission was initially granted by Fingal County Council in 2022.
However, both heritage body An Taisce and Louth Environment Group had appealed the decision.
In its decision to grant permission, ABP outline that the Government Statement on the Role of Data (July 2022) identified data centres as “core infrastructure”.
They continued that the centres enable the twin transitions of “digitalisation and decarbonisation”.
They pointed to the grid the connection agreement with EirGrid, the Corporate Purchase Power Agreement and the ability to manage electricity demand would meet energy requirements.
The site is also located in the Heavy Industry in the Fingal Development Plan 2023-2029, which “facilitates opportunities for industrial uses, activities and processes which may give rise to land use conflicts if located within other zonings”.
However, the Board found its location outside the M50 meant that it is not located on lands more suitable for employment. These would typically be closer to public transport infrastructure.
An Bord Pleanála granted approval subject to 23 conditions.
Feature Image Credit: Henry J Lyons Architects
