Louth County Council grants permission for data centre at Eir Telephone Exchange, Patrick Street, Co. Louth

In context

There were 3 nationally in the past twelve months. Of the 14 such applications decided by councils in the past three years, 86% were granted.

What happens next

The applicant, or anyone who made a submission on the application, can appeal the decision to An Coimisiún Pleanála within four weeks of 29 May 2025. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues.

The development description, as lodged

Verbatim from the Louth County Council register. This is the source for every figure in the story above.

Permission for a change of use of part of the building (2413sqm) from existing Telephone Exchange use to complementary information, communications and telecoms data centre use; Internal reconfiguration of the existing building to facilitate data storage floorspace and ancillary uses and associated alterations to the north, east, south and west elevations, including modifications to door and window positions and sizes, removal and relocation of openings, the incorporation of louvers on existing, enlarged and new openings and the repositioning of the loading bay ramp on eastern elevation; Provision of 2 no. flue stacks measuring c.17m in height above ground level (southern elevation); Replacement of an existing flue stack of c. 17m height above ground level centrally located on the southern elevation with a flue stack of the same height and a diameter of 2.3m; Provision of an additional enclosed plant yard compound of 208sqm to accommodate condenser chillers, resulting in the loss of 10 no. car parking spaces (a reduction in total number of car parking spaces from 36 no. to 26 no. spaces); Provision of a new external single storey storage shed (27 sqm); Replacement of existing palisade fence with acoustic screening, increasing the overall fence height from 2.4m to 4.0m, and provision of a roof structure to cover the existing (currently under construction under Reg. Ref. 22/240) and proposed external plant yard compounds; Provision of 5 no. additional enclosed biodiesel (HVO) standby generators; Provision of fenced plant yard compound (325sqm) comprising of 6 no. backup battery modules (It is noted that this element of the proposed development is also subject to a concurrent application to Louth County Council under LCC Reg. Ref. 24/214); Extension of the existing plant area at roof level by 254sqm, to accommodate generator radiators, and the provision of an associated walkway and guardrail to provide access to and enclose the proposed plant area; Provision of 6 no. bicycle parking spaces; Provision of 2 no. fuel tanks at ground level and overhead pipe bridge connecting to the existing building; Provision of a water tank at ground floor level contiguous to the western elevations; The removal and replacement of a door on the eastern elevation and a new door replacing an existing window on the northern elevation; and all associated site and development works and landscaping, all on site of c. 0.633 ha