Westmeath County Council grants permission for data centre at Rochfortbridge, Co. Westmeath

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 2 June 2026. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues.

The development description, as lodged

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

the development of a Data Centre Facility and Decentralised Energy Resource within an overall development boundary area of 243 hectares comprising: • 1 No. Security control building (floor area 23.5m2). • 6 No. new data buildings including administration blocks (each 228m x 62m x 18m high), 6 No. MV switch room buildings, within a secure campus having an area of 39 hectares, 1 No. fire water tank (Volume: 2000m3), pump house and proprietary modular water treatment plant. • 6 No. fuel cell towers (each 89m x 29m x 20m high), 2 No. chilled water tanks (Volume: 1000m3 each), pump house, ancillary water tank (Volume: 2000m3), carbon dioxide process building (30.7m x 15.7m x 11.3m high) and 16 No. carbon dioxide storage tanks (100 tonnes each). • Ancillary equipment compound including a storage building (30.7m x 10.7m x 9.7m high), 2 No. diesel generators, fire water tank (Volume: 2000m3) and pump house and proprietary modular water treatment plant. • Above ground gas installation (AGI) compound including a boiler/instrument kiosk, regulator/metal skid kiosk and connection to the existing gas network within the site. • 33kV IPP building (60.9m x 18.4m x 16.8m high), 1 No. telecoms tower 36m high and compound. • Fuel cell IPP building (40m x 9.8m x 7.1m high) and compound. • Solar farm IPP building (30m x 9.8m x 7.1m high) and compound. • Battery compound including 138 No. battery enclosures & 138 No. medium voltage power stations (MVPS), IPP building (40m x 9.8m x 7.1m high) and fire water tank (Volume: 500m3). • Proprietary modular water treatment plant serving the solar farm IPP building and battery compound IPP building. • Solar farm (168 hectares) to the east of the data campus facility including solar arrays measuring (10.2m x 6.9m), (20.4m x 6.9m) & (30.6 x 6.9m), 45 No. medium voltage power stations (MVPS), 5 No. weather stations, river crossings, internal gravel access roads, security fencing and gates, 3 No. temporary construction compounds, cable crossings in the R446, L11272 & L51251 public roads, and cable crossing under the M6 using horizontal directional drilling. • Connection to public sewer under the R446 public road. • New emergency only access/egress from the R446 public road. • Access/egress to the data centre campus facility through the existing Castlelost Flexgen and GIS substation access to the R446. • Demolition of the existing derelict dwelling and agricultural sheds. • All associated site works including