Plansforseconddatacentre
PLANS are being drawn up for a second data centre in Arklow.
The developer of the data centre at the former IFI site in the Avoca River Business Park, Echelon Data Centres is in the early stages of drawing up proposals for a data centre facility in Kish Business Park on the south side of Arklow. The Irish data centre developer was given the go-ahead for a proposed 100MW data centre at the former IFI site last year.
A spokesperson for Echelon Data Centres told this paper that the development on the Kish site would be of a similar size to the one planned for the Avoca River Business Park. However, the project is at a very early stage and an application for planning permission has yet to be submitted to the local authority. The company confirmed it had acquired a site in the Kish Business Park in January, but at the time did not reveal its plans for the site.
Local public representatives were broadly in favour of the proposal and its potential to bring needed employment to the area.
Councillor Pat Fitzgerald, Cathaoirleach of Arklow Municipal District, said he would ‘fully support’ any proposal for a second data centre though he acknowledged some people have have reservations about the idea.
‘It would be great for the area. We need more employment in the area as we are facing a difficult few years. I’d say there are other small towns around the country who would love to have the same facilities.’
Cllr Miriam Murphy said, ‘it’ll be brilliant to have these two areas on both sides of the town. It will encourage people to work locally and give back to the local community which has been affected in the last two months.’
Cllr Tommy Annesley said he woud ‘welcome any development in the area, particularly in these trying times.’
Cllr Pat Kennedy said, ‘it is potentially great news as it would mean more jobs during its construction and when it is up and running. Arklow was once an employment hotspot for the county but no more. A huge effort has to made to bring jobs to the entire county, particularly for south Wicklow.’
Cllr Kennedy added that he hoped IDA and other agencies could come up with a strategy to bring jobs to the Arklow and Rathdrum areas.
Cllr Sylvester Bourke sounded a note of caution as ‘it’s very early days. It has to get through planning. I would like to see the sod turned and construction started on the first one before I get excited about a second.’
Cllr Peir Leonard said she welcomed ‘any investor who will provide sustainable employment’ to Arklow. However, she said it was important that any potential development was powered using sustainable renewable energy.
‘With the capacity that these centres bring for virtual storage, Arklow will have endless opportunity to provide small virtual working hubs throughout the town centre. It’s not many towns can say they can facilitate a walk in the forest, a boat trip, beach trip, row on the river all with a fifteen minute parameter of the town centre.’
Senator Pat Casey said he ‘welcomed Echelon’s further commitment to Arklow with the proposed development of a second data centre at the Kish site and the announcement of funding for the build at the old IFI site. It sends a strong signal that Arklow is open for business.’
On Tuesday last, the developer confirmed that it had secured construction funding to begin work on its proposed data centres at the former IFI site in Arklow and in Clondalkin. A spokesperson for Echelon confirmed that site clearing and preparation is expected to get underway as soon as possible. The €500 million investment is expected to create up to 450 construction during its 18-month build and up to 90 full-time jobs once it is operational.
Echelon was granted planning permission for the project at the former IFI site in February 2019. but this was subject to an appeal which was dismissed by An Bord Pleanala last July.