StackPath Ireland

Planning · councils and An Coimisiún Pleanála

Data-centre planning in Ireland: what gets permission

We track 156 planning applications mentioning a data centre: 129 granted, 12 refused and 11 pending (council planning registers, Oct 2026). Since the CRU's November 2021 direction, new-build applications fell from 69 to 16, and the share appealed rose from 13% to 69% (small sample).

Updated 10 October 2026 · data build 2026-10-10 · how we know · corrections

What happens to an application

Figure 1

What happens to a data-centre planning application

Councils grant most data-centre applications, but 18 of 85 went to appeal (red bands), and of the 70 permissions only 34 have a certified finished building so far; 10 lapsed unbuilt.

What happens to data-centre planning applications85 new-build applications. Council: 71 granted, 6 refused, 8 no decision. 18 appealed. Final: 70 granted, 5 refused, 3 pending, 7 withdrawn or invalid. Of the granted: 34 built, 8 under construction, 8 pre-2014, 10 not started, 10 lapsed.APPLIEDCOUNCIL DECISIONFINAL OUTCOMEWHAT HAPPENED NEXTNew-build applications → Council granted: 71Council granted → Permission granted: 56Permission granted → Pre-2014, no notice system: 8Permission granted → Lapsed, never built: 10Permission granted → Built (completion cert.): 34Permission granted → Under construction: 8Council granted → Permission granted (appealed): 11Permission granted → Not started, still live: 10New-build applications → No decision / withdrawn: 8No decision / withdrawn → Withdrawn / invalid: 7New-build applications → Council refused: 6Council refused → Refused: 1No decision / withdrawn → Permission granted: 1Council granted → Refused (appealed): 2Council refused → Refused (appealed): 2Council refused → Permission granted (appealed): 2Council granted → Appeal pending: 2Council refused → Appeal pending (appealed): 1New-build applications: 8585 applicationsCouncil granted: 7171 council grantedCouncil refused: 66 council refusedNo decision / withdrawn: 88 no decision / withdrawnPermission granted: 7070 permission grantedRefused: 55 refusedAppeal pending: 33 appeal pendingWithdrawn / invalid: 77 withdrawn / invalidBuilt (completion cert.): 3434 built (completion cert.)Under construction: 88 under constructionPre-2014, no notice system: 88 pre-2014, no notice systemNot started, still live: 1010 not started, still liveLapsed, never built: 1010 lapsed, never built
What happens to data-centre planning applications85 new-build applications. Council: 71 granted, 6 refused, 8 no decision. 18 appealed. Final: 70 granted, 5 refused, 3 pending, 7 withdrawn or invalid. Of the granted: 34 built, 8 under construction, 8 pre-2014, 10 not started, 10 lapsed.COUNCILFINALCouncil granted → Permission granted: 56Council granted → Permission granted (appealed): 11No decision / withdrawn → Withdrawn / invalid: 7Council refused → Refused: 1No decision / withdrawn → Permission granted: 1Council granted → Refused (appealed): 2Council refused → Refused (appealed): 2Council refused → Permission granted (appealed): 2Council granted → Appeal pending: 2Council refused → Appeal pending (appealed): 1Council granted: 7171 council grantedCouncil refused: 66 council refusedNo decision / withdrawn: 88 no decisionPermission granted: 7070 permission grantedRefused: 55 refusedAppeal pending: 33 appeal pendingWithdrawn / invalid: 77 withdrawn / invalidTHE 70 PERMISSIONS, NOW34 built (completion cert.)8 under construction8 pre-2014, no notice system10 not started, still live10 lapsed, never built

The diagram follows every new-build data-centre planning application on Irish council registers (85 applications, lifecycle build of 10 Oct 2026) from the council's decision to the final outcome and, for permissions, to what was built. Red bands are applications that went to An Coimisiún Pleanála; 4 appeals reversed the council's decision. A completion certificate proves a building was finished, not that its data halls are switched on. Coverage is a floor: applications whose description never says "data centre" are not included.

Sources: Council planning registers via planningregister, 10 Oct 2026 · An Coimisiún Pleanála case records · BCMS commencement notices and completion certificates · StackPath lifecycle build, 10 Oct 2026

Figure 2

Data-centre planning applications and appeals, by year lodged

Of new data-centre applications lodged before the CRU's November 2021 grid direction, 13% were appealed (69 applications). Of those lodged since, 69% have been, out of only 16.

Data-centre applications and appeals by year2013: 4 applications, 0 appealed; 2014: 4 applications, 0 appealed; 2015: 5 applications, 0 appealed; 2016: 5 applications, 0 appealed; 2017: 6 applications, 1 appealed; 2018: 10 applications, 3 appealed; 2019: 7 applications, 1 appealed; 2020: 11 applications, 0 appealed; 2021: 12 applications, 4 appealed; 2022: 3 applications, 3 appealed; 2023: 4 applications, 2 appealed; 2024: 6 applications, 4 appealed; 2025: 2 applications, 1 appealed; 2026: 1 applications, 1 appealed0612Lodged after 23 Nov 2021: 69% appealedLodged before: 13% appealed2013: 4 new-build applications, 0 appealed, 4 granted, 0 refused20132014: 4 new-build applications, 0 appealed, 4 granted, 0 refused20142015: 5 new-build applications, 0 appealed, 5 granted, 0 refused20152016: 5 new-build applications, 0 appealed, 5 granted, 0 refused20162017: 6 new-build applications, 1 appealed, 6 granted, 0 refused20172018: 10 new-build applications, 3 appealed, 9 granted, 0 refused20182019: 7 new-build applications, 1 appealed, 6 granted, 0 refused20192020: 11 new-build applications, 0 appealed, 9 granted, 1 refused20202021: 12 new-build applications, 4 appealed, 8 granted, 1 refused20212022: 3 new-build applications, 3 appealed, 2 granted, 1 refused20222023: 4 new-build applications, 2 appealed, 3 granted, 1 refused20232024: 6 new-build applications, 4 appealed, 2 granted, 1 refused20242025: 2 new-build applications, 1 appealed, 1 granted, 0 refused20252026: 1 new-build applications, 1 appealed, 1 granted, 0 refused2026New-build applicationsof which appealed
Data-centre applications and appeals by year2013: 4 applications, 0 appealed; 2014: 4 applications, 0 appealed; 2015: 5 applications, 0 appealed; 2016: 5 applications, 0 appealed; 2017: 6 applications, 1 appealed; 2018: 10 applications, 3 appealed; 2019: 7 applications, 1 appealed; 2020: 11 applications, 0 appealed; 2021: 12 applications, 4 appealed; 2022: 3 applications, 3 appealed; 2023: 4 applications, 2 appealed; 2024: 6 applications, 4 appealed; 2025: 2 applications, 1 appealed; 2026: 1 applications, 1 appealed0612After: 69%Before: 13%2013: 4 new-build applications, 0 appealed, 4 granted, 0 refused'132014: 4 new-build applications, 0 appealed, 4 granted, 0 refused'142015: 5 new-build applications, 0 appealed, 5 granted, 0 refused'152016: 5 new-build applications, 0 appealed, 5 granted, 0 refused'162017: 6 new-build applications, 1 appealed, 6 granted, 0 refused'172018: 10 new-build applications, 3 appealed, 9 granted, 0 refused'182019: 7 new-build applications, 1 appealed, 6 granted, 0 refused'192020: 11 new-build applications, 0 appealed, 9 granted, 1 refused'202021: 12 new-build applications, 4 appealed, 8 granted, 1 refused'212022: 3 new-build applications, 3 appealed, 2 granted, 1 refused'222023: 4 new-build applications, 2 appealed, 3 granted, 1 refused'232024: 6 new-build applications, 4 appealed, 2 granted, 1 refused'242025: 2 new-build applications, 1 appealed, 1 granted, 0 refused'252026: 1 new-build applications, 1 appealed, 1 granted, 0 refused'26New-build applicationsof which appealed

Each bar counts new-build data-centre applications lodged with Irish councils in a year; the red part went to An Coimisiún Pleanála on appeal. The percentages split applications by lodgement date at the CRU's direction of 23 November 2021 on data-centre grid connections; the shaded bars are the calendar years after it (2021 itself is mostly before). Since then applications have dropped and appeals, by objectors or by refused applicants, have become the norm; the post-2021 sample is small. 2026 is a part year. Counts only include applications whose description says "data centre", so they are a floor.

Sources: Council planning registers via planningregister, 10 Oct 2026 · An Coimisiún Pleanála case records · StackPath lifecycle build, 10 Oct 2026

How long planning takes, before and after 2021

Figure 3

The life of a data-centre project, from planning file to finished building

Planning is quick; building is slow. A council decides in about 2.0 months, an appeal adds 15.2, and the first building is certified complete a median 36.9 months after the application was lodged.

The life of an Irish data-centre projectMedian months: Council decision 2.0 (n=79); Start building 6.5 (n=42); Construction 19.8 (n=35); appeal, where there is one, 15.2 months (n=16); lodgement to first completion certificate 36.9 months (n=35).06 mo12 mo18 mo24 mo30 mo36 mo42 mo48 mo54 moTypical pathMEDIANS, BACK TO BACKCouncil decision: median 2.0 months; middle half 52–172 days; n=792.0 mo · Council decisionlodged → decidedStart building: median 6.5 months; middle half 52–553 days; n=426.5 mo · Start buildinggrant → first building noticeConstruction: median 19.8 months; middle half 408–838 days; n=3519.8 mo · Constructionfirst notice → completion cert.If appealed16 DECIDED APPEALSAppeal to An Coimisiún Pleanála: median 15.2 months; middle half 301–665 days; n=16+15.2 mo at An Coimisiún PleanálaMeasured end to endLODGED → FIRST COMPLETIONLodgement to first completion certificate: median 36.9 months, n=3536.9 months medianmiddle half: 23.9–55.1 moRunning alongside, timing not publicGrid connection offerEirGrid / ESB NetworksEPA licenceif generators ≥50 MW thermalEnergisationIT load is not publishedRatesvaluation list entry
The life of an Irish data-centre projectMedian months: Council decision 2.0 (n=79); Start building 6.5 (n=42); Construction 19.8 (n=35); appeal, where there is one, 15.2 months (n=16); lodgement to first completion certificate 36.9 months (n=35).MEDIAN MONTHS · SCALE 0–55 MOCouncil decision: 2.0 molodged → decided · n=79Start building: 6.5 mogrant → first building notice · n=42Construction: 19.8 mofirst notice → completion cert. · n=35Appeal, if any: 15.2 moAn Coimisiún Pleanála · n=16Lodged → first completion: 36.9 momiddle half 23.9–55.1 mo · n=35

Each bar is the median time for one stage, measured on Irish planning files that mention a data centre (79 council decisions, 16 decided appeals, 35 projects that reached a completion certificate). Medians of different groups do not add up exactly, so the end-to-end line is measured separately; its whisker shows the middle half of projects. 71% of new-build permissions at least two years old had started (39 of 55); the rest are unbuilt or lapsed. Grid offers, EPA licences and energisation dates are not published per project, so they are shown without durations.

Sources: Council planning registers via planningregister, 10 Oct 2026 · An Coimisiún Pleanála case records · Building Control Management System commencement notices and completion certificates · StackPath lifecycle build, 10 Oct 2026

3.1 yrs
Median, application to finished building
n=35 · completion certificates
71%
Of granted new builds actually started
39 of 55 since 2014
69%
Appealed since the 2021 CRU direction
was 13% · n=16 vs 69
23.5 mo
Median appeal now
was 10.5 months · 7 vs 5 appeals

How long each step takes (median months)

Lodged → council decision2
Appeal → Board decision (if appealed)15.2
Grant → construction starts5.5
Construction → completion certificate19.8

Once granted, projects start in about 6 months and finish about 18 months later. The delay has moved into planning and appeals.

Before and after the CRU direction (Nov 2021)

BeforeAfter
New-build applications6916
Median lodged → council decision2 mo4.5 mo
Further information requested43%69%
Appealed13%69%
Refused3%25%
Median appeal length10.5 mo23.5 mo

New-build applications lodged before and after 23 Nov 2021. The "after" group is small and still filling in: read the direction, not the decimals.

Permitted but not built

SiteOperatorCouncilm²StatusExpiry
Equinix Profile Park (DB8) SD21A/0186EquinixSDCC9,601unstarted, expires within 12 months2027-05-05
Hoffmann Park, Little Island 21/5574—CORKCO—unstarted, expires within 12 months2027-07-08
Parslickstown, Mulhuddart FW21A/0046—FINGAL—unstarted, permission live2027-12-05
Wallingstown, Little Island 17/6980—CORKCO—unstarted, permission live2028-02-26
Avoca River Park, Arklow 2372Echelon (Crag Digital Avoca)WICKLOW48,618unstarted, permission live2028-07-24
Tulla Road, Ennis 21757—CLARE118,740unstarted, permission live2029-04-14
EdgeConneX Ballymakaily SD22A/0333EdgeConneXSDCC15,274unstarted, permission live2030-07-31
Avoca River Park, Arklow 2560594Echelon (Crag Digital Avoca)WICKLOW45,511unstarted, permission live2031-06-01
Pure DC Orion Park FW26A/0021EPure DCFINGAL—unstarted, permission live2031-07-24
Google Grange Castle SD24A/0164WGoogleSDCC38,115unstarted, permission live2036-09-23
Crag Avenue, Clondalkin SD13A/0271eirSDCC59,239lapsed without commencement notice2019-07-21
Ovens IDA estate 14/6757—CORKCO—lapsed without commencement notice2020-02-23
Staffordstown, Turvey F15A/0266McHale PartnershipFINGAL7,032lapsed without commencement notice2020-12-16
Kevlin, Lifford 1850236—DONEGAL—lapsed without commencement notice2023-02-24
Crag Avenue, Clondalkin SD18A/0068Echelon (Crag Digital)SDCC56,560lapsed without commencement notice2024-05-13
Avoca River Park, Arklow 18940Echelon (Crag Digital Avoca)WICKLOW—lapsed without commencement notice2024-07-16
Mountkennedy, Newtownmountkennedy 10/2123 (via 24306)—WICKLOW111,228lapsed without commencement notice2024-07-30
Damastown, Mulhuddart FW19A/0232—FINGAL48,303lapsed without commencement notice2025-10-30
Avoca River Park, Arklow 201285Echelon (Crag Digital Avoca)WICKLOW47,580lapsed without commencement notice2026-03-21
Kish Business Park, Arklow 201088—WICKLOW66,630lapsed without commencement notice2026-06-09
Wallingstown, Little Island 16/5011—CORKCO—lapsed without commencement notice2026-07-28
Derrydonnell, Athenry Athenry original permission (via 211047)AppleGALWAYCO30,138lapsed without commencement notice2026-08-04

Highlighted: permission still live but no construction started. Built = a Building Control completion certificate, not switch-on. Coverage is a floor: some data centres are described as "ICT facilities".

PlanSight planning register × Building Control (BCMS) commencement notices and completion certificates · as of 2026-10-10

What the planning inspectors found

22
Inspector reports read, case by case
of 37 data-centre appeals
15 / 3
Granted / refused on appeal
8
Cases relying on on-site gas
3
Board overruled its inspector
Where the Board and its inspector split. Energia's 150 MW data halls at Huntstown (Microsoft named as the renewables buyer) were recommended for refusal twice and granted. Vantage DUB13 was recommended for grant and refused: the Board wasn't satisfied on-site gas wouldn't become the primary power source, which policy rules out. Equinix at Profile Park was also recommended for grant and refused; the council had refused it over reliance on gas (the Board's own order isn't machine-readable).

Why projects were refused

no fixed grid connection / grid capacity2
reliance on on-site gas (islanding risk)2
EIAR deficiency2
insufficient renewables / PPA evidence1
contrary to development plan (EDE7)1

663.6 MW of demand stated across the reports. 13 of 22 reports give no demand figure.

What on-site generation looks like

EirGrid's flexible connection offers require generation that can run for up to ~500 hours a year (EdgeConneX, 317802).

Art Data Centres, Ennis: ~200 MW, of which ~120 MW from 18 on-site gas engines and ~80 MW from the grid (314474).

DecidedCaseOperatorDecisionMWGridOn-site generation
2026-07-24501133South Dublin Routing 4 No.2 Ltd (Pure DC campus)
levy reduced to €2,424,253 (23,053 m2)
other—38 kV · 10 MVAgas8× gas/HVO
2025-12-19318180Universal Developers LLC (Amazon Data Services Ireland group)
renewables additionality · CO2 (c.229,855 t/yr at 2025 mix) · HVO credibility
grant73.1220 kV · 240 MVA39× diesel/HVO
2025-07-31317802EdgeConneX Ireland Ltd
PA refused: grid capacity, reliance on gas · flexible demand offer · hedgerows / biodiversity
grant—110 kVgas61× gas, 24× diesel
2025-07-22320651Grid Beyond Ltd
€38,784 contribution on BESS upheld
other—
2025-04-04317446Vantage Data Centers DUB11 Ltd
whether campus connection agreement covers new building · multi-fuel plant role · EPA IE licence
refuse—110 kVgasgas/HVO 96 MW, 14× diesel
2025-03-21313583Huntstown Power Company Ltd (Energia); end user Microsoft per CPPAs
Government Statement 2022 / constrained Dublin grid · renewables additionality (CPPAs, temporal matching) · Climate Action Plan demand flexibility
grant150220 kV58× diesel
2025-02-19317936Equinix (Ireland) Ltd
islanded data centre contrary to Government Statement · no grid offer · Casement Aerodrome plumes
refuse—gasgas 27.48 MW, 9× diesel
2025-01-03318151The Davy Platform ICAV (Liffey Sub-Fund)
€9.47m development contribution vs demolition credit (inspector: net 88,759 m2)
other—110 kV
2024-11-12312371The Davy Platform ICAV
is a data centre an 'industrial process'? · material change of use from manufacturing · EPA/ETS thresholds for generators
other—110 kV
2024-04-05314474Art Data Centres Ltd
fossil gas lock-in / hydrogen reliance · 657,000 t CO2e/yr claimed by appellants (~1.1%) · carbon budgets
grant200110 kVgas18× gas 120 MW, 66× diesel
2024-02-14314461Digital Netherlands VIII B.V.
grid capacity in Dublin · Government Statement 2022 principles · concentration of data centres in Profile Park
refuse52110 kV5× gas 12.5 MW, 32× diesel 70.4 MW
2023-08-01313603Energy Optimisation Solutions Ltd
first-party appeal against 3-year temporary limit (removed)
grant—
2022-12-05312424Colm Mac Daibheid
data-centre use omitted by condition: no information on energy, water, heat
grant—
2022-04-14310729Tunis Properties LLC
no grid capacity confirmation · climate / ETS · air quality from generators
grant48 · 6 MVA26× diesel
2020-10-05305948EdgeConneX Ireland Ltd
temporary gas plant powering data centre · waste heat · noise
grant—gas19× gas, 32× diesel
2020-03-11305962Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO)
first-party appeal against condition requiring R403/R404 junction upgrade (removed by Board)
grant3.5110 kV5× diesel
2019-07-17303938Crag Digital Avoca Ltd
flood risk · energy use (appellant: MIC = 6.6% of grid) · prematurity vs another Wicklow data centre
grant—110 kV · 50 MVAgas7× gas 70 MW, 24× diesel 60 MW
2019-04-18302813CyrusOne Irish Datacentres Holdings Ltd
residential amenity / visual (third party neighbours) · noise · flood risk
grant—110 kV32× diesel
2018-12-06301923Runways Information Services Ltd (Facebook / Meta)
campus energy demand (180MW) vs renewables targets · construction traffic · archaeology
grant72220 kV91× diesel
2018-07-26300752EdgeConneX Ireland
flood risk / attenuation (appellant) · temporary gas generation due to grid limits
grant—gas12× gas, 4× diesel
2018-01-18248544Amazon Data Services Ireland Ltd (ADSIL)
energy demand vs EirGrid forecasts (masterplan = ~33% of 2026 data-centre demand) · climate / ETS · renewables claims (SSE supply)
grant35110 kV · 267 MVA26× diesel
2016-08-11245518Apple Distribution International
unzoned rural site · climate / CO2 of 8-hall build-out (~1.5% of national CO2) · grid capacity for later phases
grant30220 kV18× diesel 36 MW

Highlighted: the Board went against its inspector. MW figures aren't like for like (phase vs campus); each record notes its basis. Read by Claude from the reports; every quote checked against its page.

An Coimisiún Pleanála inspector reports and orders · as of 2026-10-03

Judicial reviews

We checked all 134 High Court planning cases in PlanSight's court-list scrape (the Planning & Environment list of 2026-07-06 plus 7 judgments delivered Jul–Aug 2026) against the 156 data-centre applications and their 44 appeals, by case number, planning ref and party name. None matched a data-centre application. The scrape is a July 2026 snapshot, not a history, so earlier cases are missing.

SchemeAppeal decidedHigh CourtMonthsSource
Art Data Centres, Ennis (Co Clare), 200 MW campus
CLARE 21757 · ACP 314474
2024-04-05 (grant)High Court cleared the scheme (reported week of 13 Mar 2026)23.2RTÉ
2026/335/JR Friends of the Irish Environment and others v CRU: the challenge to CRU/2025/236, the large-energy-user (data-centre) connection policy. A policy decision, not a planning application.—For Mention, listed 2026-07-06—PlanSight jr_case

Months = appeal decision to High Court ruling; filing dates aren't in the sources read. A residents' group v An Coimisiún Pleanála listing names neither the scheme nor the developer, so a party-name match can miss cases.

Most recent applications

ReceivedApplicantWhatDecisionRef
2026-05-27MicrosoftExtension of permissionGrant Extension of Duration of PermissionSD20A/0283/EP
2026-04-27Crag DigitalExtension of permissionGrant Extension of Duration of PermissionSD20A/0309/EP
2026-04-15Data & Power Hub Services LimitedExtension of permissionGrant Extension of Duration of PermissionSD20A/0324/EP
2026-04-02CyrusOneExtension of permissionGrant Extension of Duration of PermissionSD20A/0295/EP
2026-03-12EchelonChange to existingGrant Permission for RetentionSD25A/0301W
2026-01-27EchelonChange to existingGrant Permission & Grant RetentionSD25A/0257W
2026-01-20South Dublin Routing 4 No.2 LimitedNew data centreGRANT PERMISSIONFW26A/0021E
2026-01-13MicrosoftExemption queryDeclared ExemptED26/0001
2025-10-09Not statedChange to existingCONDITIONAL2560806
2025-08-01Not statedChange to existingCONDITIONAL2560594
2025-07-09MicrosoftExemption queryDeclared ExemptED25/0053
2025-07-08Not statedNew data centreCONDITIONAL2560344
2025-02-14MicrosoftNew data centreGrant PermissionSD25A/0035W
2025-01-17Not statedExtension of permissionUnconditional Permission25/4033
2024-12-19Not statedChange to existingCONDITIONAL24226

Council planning registers via planningregister.ie. All 156 applications are on the data-centres page and in the open data.

Related