Roads body withdraws objections to Wicklow data centre

The National Roads Authority (NRA) has withdrawn objections to plans for one of the world’s largest data centres at Newtownmountkennedy in Co Wicklow.

The NRA’s decision to drop objections to the proposed €1 billion development came after a strong local campaign that included assurances from Wicklow County Council on improvements to a junction on the N11.

Ecologic Datacentres of Newtownmountkennedy has proposed an 82-acre 'digital services campus' based on the latest cloud computing technology and associated industries on a site it owns at Mountkennedy Demesne.

While the centre would employ some 200 people when fully operational, the developers envisage a multiple of that number employed during construction.

The developers intend the campus to be carbon-negative, using electricity from renewable sources. Heat generated by the facility will be used in a district heating system. They also plan to build a tourist 'biodome park' similar to the Eden Project in England.

The NRA based its objections to the project on access to the N11 - consultants’ reports said the present interchange would be unable to handle additional traffic.

However, the authority last week confirmed it had received assurances from the council that road improvements would be made without use of NRA funds.

Brian McDonagh of Ecologic Datacentres said the campus would include a new road parallel to the N11, serving the site from its Kilpedder end to the Ballyroan roundabout. He said this would allow for a cycle track linking the Newtownmountkennedy road with Kilpedder.

Mr McDonagh rejected criticism that, as a property developer, he was not in a position to deliver the cloud computing business. He said his company was in talks with some of the industry’s best-known names. He said the talks, in San Francisco, were going well.

Council chairman Tom Fortune welcomed the announcement, saying the project had tremendous spin-off potential for the area.

The Irish Times

www.buckplanning.ie

Newtown plans put on hold

A PLAN which would see a massive increase in the population of Newtownmountkennedy has been put on hold by Wicklow County Council. The council's planners have sought further information from the developers, Kineada Limited, who are seeking permission to construct 935 residential units in the town.

A PLAN which would see a massive increase in the population of Newtownmountkennedy has been put on hold by Wicklow County Council.

The council's planners have sought further information from the developers, Kineada Limited, who are seeking permission to construct 935 residential units in the town.

They now have six months to respond. The council was due to give its decision on Tuesday last.

Kineada hope to build the 935 houses and apartments which will have a total ground floor area of 96,919 square metres, in an area which stretches from Season Park to Monalin, Newtown.

The proposed development would see the demolition of all structures on the site south west of Season Park and the construct of 588 houses and 347 apartments in 27 blocks.

Wicklow People

www.buckplanning.ie

Major development in pipeline for Newtown

This from the Wicklow People: Another major development is in the pipeline for Newtownmountkennedy. A planning application for a mixed use development with residential and office units is proposed for Killmacullagh, Main Street, Newtown. A decision is due on the application, which was lodged by DDM Partnership, on March 5.

The proposed development is for five blocks comprising 55 residential units and six office units on a site of about 0.65 hectares. The entrance to the proposed development would be off Main Street and the development would also include the upgrading and realignment of the existing road, 150 car parking spaces, service yard and landscaping.