Council refuses Google data centre planning permission 

South Dublin County Council has refused planning permission to Google Ireland for a new data centre at Grange Castle Business Park.  

The US tech giant had sought permission to build a 72,400 m² data storage facility which would incorporate data halls, a high voltage compound, offices and staff facilities, a loading area as well as mechanical and electrical yards and ancillary buildings.  

 However, South Dublin County Council refused permission citing insufficient national grid capacity and a lack of renewable energy among the reasons for refusal.  

In the planning documents lodged with Google’s application, the company warned that if the new data centre project does not progress, the company will struggle to meet the increasing demands for its ICT services to its customers here.  

South Dublin County Council however felt there was a lack of clarity over Google’s “engagement with Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) in Ireland with regard to the development”.   

The local authority also cited “the lack of a connection to the surrounding district heating network, the proposed design of the development as well as how it relates to its surroundings, and lack of detail of how the proposal will impact power supply once operational (2027).”   

 The council said they considered that Google had failed to demonstrate that the proposed use is “acceptable on EE zoned lands, in accordance with EDE7 Objective 2 and Section 12.9.4 of the South Dublin County Development Plan 2022-2028.  

“In this regard the proposed development would, therefore, be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area,” the council said in their decision.  

“The proposed development does not comply with EDE7 Objective 3, GI1 Objective 4, GI2 Objective 2, GI2 Objective 4, GI1 Objective 1, NCBH11 Objective 3, 4 and 5 and GI5 Objective 4 the South Dublin County Development Plan 2022-2028 in relation to the retention and protection of existing green infrastructure (stream and hedgerow), culverting and alteration of the stream on site, provision of green infrastructure, and complying with the SDCC Green Space Factor.   

“In this regard the proposed development, would, therefore, be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.”  

The news that South Dublin County Council had rejected planning permission for Google to build the new data centre at Grange Castle Business Park was welcomed by local  People Before Profit representatives.     

“The development of new data centres will make it next to impossible for Ireland to meet its climate targets,” said Gino Kenny TD.  

 “The average data centre uses the same amount of electricity as 23,000 homes.   

 “By 2028 they are expected to use 27% of all electricity in Ireland.   

 “This is also putting a huge strain on our electricity grid and may lead to rolling electricity blackouts according to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU).  

 “They use between 500,000 litres and 5 million litres of water a day.  

In Dublin our water supply is already under a huge amount of strain and Data centres will only increase this.”  

 Cllr Darragh Adelaide said that according to the Guardian, up to 88% of what is stored in the cloud is considered junk data that will not be accessed again by users.   

 “Apps, websites and cookies track our day-to-day activities,” he said.  

 “This information is stored and sold to other businesses.   

 “Data centres provide very few jobs but take large amounts of resources from our local community.”  

  Cllr Madeleine Johansson said she was glad to see that the council are listening to Councillors.  

 “Last Summer, Councillors on South Dublin County Council voted in favour of my motion to ban further data centre development in the area, currently half of all data centres in Ireland are located here, however, the government undemocratically overturned this decision,” she said.  

“Much like the housing crisis, the government is more interested in the profits of big investors and big business than the needs of our communities or the environment.   

“It is hugely welcome to see that the council have rejected this application and are listening to Councillors and the community.”