No basis for rezoning land for anticipated Kildare data centre, say council
A view of Meta's data center in Clonee Co Meath
A MOTION seeking to begin the process of removing the data centre zoning from a site in Naas before a planning application is lodged was discussed at a recent Naas Municipal District meeting.
It was agreed that the motion would be referred to a full Kildare County Council meeting on 28 September.
At the most recent meeting of the municipal district on 8 September, cllr Bill Clear proposed ‘that the council considers commencing the statutory process to vary the Naas Local Area Plan, with a view to reviewing the existing “P Data Centre” zoning designation on lands at Jigginstown/Maudlins, Naas’.
Microsoft has plans for a data centre at the site, with the tech giant confirming in 2023 that it was at an early stage of developing a proposal for a new data centre campus near Jigginstown.
Senior planner Amy Granville issued the council’s written response to cllr Clear’s motion, stating that ‘the existing “P Data Centre” zoning designation on lands at Jigginstown/Maudlins, Naas in the Naas Local Area Plan was considered as part of the statutory process to prepare the Local Area Plan and reflects the strategic planning framework for the town, including the need to provide for a range of employment-generating land uses and maintain a balanced approach to economic development’.
The response said the local authority considers the site important for attracting investment, creating jobs and supporting economic growth in Naas, before adding that keeping land available for a range of employment uses, including data centres, gives the town flexibility to respond to future business opportunities.
Locals opposed to the proposed data centres in Naas have disputed claims around employment opportunities arising from developments.
Chairperson of the Social Democrats Sorcha O’Neill recently told the Kildare Nationalist that once the data centres are built, “the jobs factor is actually much more minuscule compared to what the initial construction phase is”.
Ms Granville’s written response also stated that there is currently no evidence showing that the data centre zoning is no longer suitable.
Before changing the zoning, detailed studies would be needed, examining issues such as economic impacts, infrastructure, energy use, environmental effects and national planning policy.
The council’s view is that, as this work has not been carried out, and, in their view, there is no evidence of ‘a material change in circumstances since the adoption of the Naas Local Area Plan’, there is no basis for changing the zoning currently.
The Naas Local Area Plan 2021-2027 was adopted in October 2021.
Ms Granville’s response stated that the plan was adopted after ‘a very comprehensive public consultation process and was supported by a wide-ranging evidence base’.
Cllr Anne Breen seconded the motion and expressed her support to Cllr Clear thanked members of Kildare Data Centre Awareness Group, who were present at the meeting, for their work.
The group organised a meeting held in the Osprey Hotel less than a week previously, which was attended by more than 250 people and received national attention.
Residents voiced growing concerns over the scale of planned data centre developments in the town, including both the P2 Jigginstown site and the proposed €3 billion Herbata Ltd data centre complex next to the M7 motorway and business park.
Cllr Fintan Brett questioned why the motion was on the municipal district meeting agenda, saying that it needed to go to full council.
He said that he could not foresee a zoning change before the planning application is received. Microsoft have yet to lodge an application.
Cllr Ger Dunne expressed his support for the motion.
District manager David Creighton said the motion could neither be considered nor voted on at the meeting and would instead have to go to the full council.
He added that the Local Area Plan had been adopted by a majority of municipal district members and reiterated the council’s view that “the situation hasn’t changed” since then and there is no evidence that the proposed development or the site’s zoning is inappropriate.
Cllr Clear had stated minutes earlier that he had changed his mind on the zoning due to information that has emerged since 2021, such as issues caused by a data centre in Clondalkin.
Cllr Clear said that he wanted the same motion, with the same wording, to be brought before the monthly full Kildare County Council meeting, which is due to take place on 28 September. It was agreed that the motion would be referred to that meeting.
