Plans for the construction of a technology park on a site between Newtownmountkennedy and Kilpedder got the go ahead yesterday, paving the way for the creation of more than 2,000 jobs in the area.
The Supreme Court yesterday dismissed appeals by An Bord Pleanála after they refused permission for the development of the technology park on the site near the N11.
Wicklow County Council granted permission for the project in 2010 after rezoning land for data-centre use, but four objectors appealed to An Bord Pleanála. These objections were subsequently withdrawn and An Bord Pleanála signed off on its refusal order five days later.
The Supreme Court ruled yesterday that decisions taken by the Bord do not take effect until they are put in written form and An Bord Pleanála’s refusal was overturned.
The developers behind the 1.1 million square foot data centre, Ecological Data Centres, said 2,000 people would be employed during construction and a further 200 jobs would be created once the centre opened.
It also estimates there could be up to 800 spin-off jobs.
Ecological Data Centres will build a carbon-negative facility, meaning the complex will remove more carbon CO2 from the atmosphere than they will create.
Electricity for the site will be generated by windfarms and heat from the servers will be recycled. That warmth would be used to heat thousands of homes and businesses in the area, as well as a number of large greenhouses, which would be used for horticultural purposes.
