Kildare residents' concerns over data centre are ignored by council

Kildare County Council has come out in favour of data centre zoning.

This is despite opposition to a planned data centre complex already approved for a site near the M7 Business Park near Newhall, Naas, and protests about the zoning of a site near the Primrose Garden estate, Jigginstown, for date centre development.

Opposition to data centres in the area is being coordinated by the Kildare Data Centre Awareness Campaign.

The group held a public meeting recently at the Osprey Hotel which attracted 300 people and heard criticisms of the impact of data centres on the water and electricity supply as well as concerns about the impact on the environment.

KCC said the data centre reflects the need to provide for “a range of employment-generating land uses and maintain a balanced approach to economic development.”

KCC’s Amy Granville said the site is in a “strategically important location within the economic development structure of Naas and (it forms) part of the overall supply of lands available to support investment. (jobs) and economic growth.”

Ms Granville added the “range of employment zoning objectives, including those facilitating data centre development, contributes to the flexibility and resilience of the local economy.”

It also ensures that the town “can respond to evolving investment opportunities.”

In a report to a Naas Municipal District committee meeting, she said any move to change the zoning should be supported by evidence including an assessment of land use needs, economic needs and infrastructure capacity.

Ms Granville also said energy considerations, environmental impacts, consistency with planning policy and the potential impact on the overall settlement strategy for Naas would also have to be assessed.

She said this analysis “has not been undertaken to date and there is currently no planning evidence (to show) that the existing zoning is no longer appropriate.”

She said without a “robust planning justification demonstrating a material change in

circumstances since the adoption of the Naas Local Area Plan” the existing zoning is appropriate and a change “is not warranted at this time.”

Nasa Mayor Bill Clear said the zoning was done in 2021 and he had a “benign view” of data centres at that time “but things have changed."

He said his views had changed following a visit to a centre in Clondalkin where there was considerable noise impact.

Clr Anne Breen criticised the amount of water and electricity consumed at the centres and said the Jigginstown site is “three times the size of Croke Park.”.

Cllr Fintan Brett said there was “very little objection” when the zoning happened. He also said the NMD could not change the zoning and this is a decision for the full 40 member Kildare County Council.

He said the issue needs to be dealt with “when a planning application comes in.” He added that if the proposed project will cause “serious disruption” it will not be approved.

He said Microsoft, purported to own the Jigginstown site, “is a big company and a large employer” but the people with planning expertise should be allowed to decide what happens.

Cllr Ger Dunne said he would have concerns if noise from a centre can be heard two kilometres away, as has been suggested.

KCC official David Creighton said the NMD cannot vote on the issue, which needs to go to the full council. He also said the Naas Local Area Plan which included the data centre zoning was adopted by the councillors. Mr Creighton added that “nothing has changed” and there was nothing to suggest the zoning decision was inappropriate.