Controversial plans for a major new data centre campus in County Clare have been given the green light by An Bord Pleanála.

The €1.2 billion campus will be made up of six data centre halls over 145 acres of land near the M18 outside Ennis.

The company behind the plan has said the centre will create up to 450 permanent jobs and up 1,200 construction jobs.

The campus is expected to take six years to build, with the company now aiming to begin work later this year.

Climate crisis

The plans were challenged by An Taisce, Friends of the Irish Environment, Futureproof Clare, the Clare Green Party and three private individuals.

They warned that the centre will require a “very significant amount of power” and will emit around 657,000 tonnes of CO2 every year.

An Taisce has warned that the “substantial increase in annual emissions” associated with the campus is in breach of Ireland’s legal climate change obligations.

'Significant milestone'

In a statement, Clare County Council (CCC) said the decision was a “significant milestone in the development of this strategic site”.

“I welcome the decision of An Bord Pleanála on this important proposal for Ennis, County Clare, and indeed the region,” CCC Chief Executive Pat Dowling said.

“Clare County Council through its Planning Department and Economic Development Directorate have worked over the last 10 years to identify and bring forward a plan-led approach for a development of this scale.”

An Bord Pleanála said it considered the Government statement on the role of data centres in Ireland’s Enterprise Strategy from July 2022 in approving the development.

The ABP appeals board took more than 18 months to make a determination.