Apple Revives Plans for Data Center in Athenry, Ireland

Apple has revived plans to build a data center in Athenry, Ireland.

Blaming years of approval delays, the company discontinued the project back in 2018 and put the land up for sale. However, earlier this month, Apple submitted an application to Galway County Council for an extension to its planning permission. The company now says it aims to have a data center built by the end of the extension period.

Here's what Apple seeks to build:


To construct the following: a 24,505sqm single storey data centre building, a 5232sqm single storey Logistics and Administration Building, a 289sqm single storey Maintenance Building, a 16sqm Security Hut and associated barriers, 2 number 48sqm Fibre Huts (max building eaves height = 10m), 18 external standby generators, all associated external plant, a 20kV Electricity Substation, contractor facilities, a main entrance including a new right turning lane, internal access roads and associated infrastructure, proprietary waste water treatment plants including percolation areas, mains water connection, fire water storage tanks; rainwater harvesting, provision of fibre optic data connections, car parking (207 spaces, including 7 visitor spaces, 50 internal staff mobility spaces and disabled parking spaces), bike parking, an amenity walkway and associated parking, site leveling for a laydown area and a 220kV substation, 2.4m high perimeter security fencing, landscaping including supplementary tree planting and all associated works. A report for screening for Appropriate Assessment and an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be submitted with the planning application (gross floor space 30,138sqm)

The original planning permission is due to expire in September. The extension would give the company until 2026. In the application, Apple blames judicial challenges and COVID-19 for the delay in construction.

"Due to delays associated with the judicial processes initiated after the relevant planning consent issued and, more recently, the complications over the last year.. .arising from the Covid-19 pandemic, the subject development has not been brought to fruition."

“This extension... is being sought in order to provide adequate time to facilitate the provision of the subject development. It is the intention that the project will be undertaken as soon as practicable once suitable developers are identified."


"It is anticipated the development will be completed within the extension period sought."

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Read More [via DCD]