More information sought on contentious Mayo data centre
Planning permission has already been granted for one data centre in Killala.
Mayo County Council have requested further information from the developer of a proposed data centre in Killala.
A decision was due on Mayo Data Hub Ltd’s planning application for a c. 29,076 sq m. data centre at the former Asahi site on the outskirts of the north Mayo village last week, however, the local authority has written to the developer requesting further information on the proposed development.
A local authority seeking further information on a planning application is a regular occurrence when it needs more details about a proposed development in order to make an informed decision.
In a written correspondence, the Council said they had concerns about the lack of energy from renewable energy sources as an overall percentage of required power at the facility and have asked the applicant how the development can comply with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (C.R.U) requirement regarding the “grid connections” which require that any developer provides on site dispatchable generation and/or storage equivalent to or greater than its demand.
The Council has also asked the developer to justify the need for another data centre development at this location when planning was previously granted for a similar facility on a nearby site in 2021.
The Council have sought further information on five additional aspects of the application related to the proposed height of the building, the ‘Green Walls’ approach to the building design, the use of heat generated by the proposed development, references made in the submitted documentation to a nearby transatlantic cable landing station and related to a proposed site access road.
The developer has a period of six months to comply with the request for further information and this may be extended up to an additional three months in agreement with Mayo County Council.
The proposed Data Centre hit the headlines earlier this month when internationally acclaimed Mayo author Sally Rooney made a written objection to Mayo County Council regarding the proposed development.
The Castlebar native urged the local authority to refuse planning permission for what she described as a "wasteful, unnecessary and environmentally toxic proposal".
