Google has received planning approval from An Coimisiún Pleanála to expand its data center campus at Grange Castle Business Park in Dublin, following a lengthy dispute with South Dublin County Council. The company first proposed a 72,400 sqm (779,310 sq ft) third data center building at the campus in June 2024, but the application was rejected two months later. The council cited limited electricity grid capacity, insufficient on-site renewable energy, uncertainty over Google’s Irish Power Purchase Agreements, and the lack of a connection to the local district heating network.
Google later appealed the decision to An Coimisiún Pleanála, arguing that it had secured the required grid connection in 2021. The application was submitted during a de facto moratorium on new Dublin data centers imposed by state-owned grid operator EirGrid, which said it would not accept new applications until 2028. Google has now received approval, subject to several conditions. These include providing evidence of power purchase agreements, using renewable fuel for backup generators, encouraging employees to use public transport, cycle or walk to work, and improving the site’s ecological value.
A Google spokesperson welcomed the decision, saying the company is pleased that An Coimisiún Pleanála approved its appeal and that it will continue investing in infrastructure in Ireland to meet growing demand. Google has operated data centers at Grange Castle Business Park since 2012. It first announced plans to convert a warehouse at the site into a data center in 2011 and received approval for a second facility in 2014. The company has previously said it has invested around €500 million ($535.3m) in the site.
