Gneevebane Oldtown Farthingstown Castlelost and Kiltotan and Collinstown, Rochfortbridge, County Westmeath
Proposed development
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
This description looks cut short in the national planning register. Read the full description on the council's file
- Applicant
- Not published
- Authority
- Westmeath County Council
- Decision due
- 2 Jun 2026
Timeline
Application received
8 Jul 2025
Council asked for further information
1 Sept 2025
Further information received. If the council treats it as significant, a new submission period opens (check the council's file)
23 Mar 2026
Decision due
2 Jun 2026
Decision: conditional
2 Jun 2026
Appeal lodged (PL-501596-WH-26)
Not available
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Planning history within 750 m
amendments to the Energy Storage System (ESS) facility (consented under Westmeath County Council Planning Ref: 21/532) The amendments are as follows: (i) the removal of the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) compound and contents within, including the IPP building and all ancillary items, as previously consented, (ii) reconfiguration of the synchronous condenser compound (area remains at 9,309sqm), (iii) increase the size of the horizontal synchronous generator building and reposition within the compound, (iv) increase of control modules from 5 No. to 8 No., (v) reposition and alteration of associated bunded transformers and electrical plant, (vi) reposition external cooling fans, (vii) provision of a new external containerised diesel generator, and (viii) all ancillary development, including; lightening mast protection, perimeter fencing with access gates, landscaping, lighting, car parking, internal access roads, underground electrical cable routes, and all civil engineering works for the disposal of surface water
to construct a dwelling house, detached garage with septic tank and percolation area with all ancillary site works
to construct a dwelling house, detached garage with septic tank and percolation area with all ancillary site works
development which will consist of alterations to the development consented under Westmeath Planning Case Ref. 21/515 (parent permission) and are as follows: (i) reconfiguration of structures and pipework within the above ground installation (AGI) compound, (ii) increase the size of gas oil (secondary fuel) storage tanks and bund and realignment of tanks within the bund, (iii) remove one consented emergency diesel generator from the development layout and reposition of the second consented emergency diesel generator alongside an LV switchroom, (iv) reposition palisade fence associated with ancillary equipment compound approximately 15m to the west, (v) reconfigure and reposition fuel pumps (polishing and forwarding), MCC equipment, fire water pump, fire water tank and air compressor adjacent to the southern side of the secondary fuel storage bund, (vi) remove water treatment module and ammonia storage tank from the development layout, (vii) remove two distribution transformers from the development layout and reposition the remaining three consented distribution transformers to the ancillary equipment compound to the west, (viii) remove five gas turbine selective catalytic reduction (SCR) units and associated ancillary components (fans), (ix) reposition of two high voltage (HV) transformers within the HV transformer compound and installation of a third HV transformer in lieu of the HV transformer consented under Planning Permission Ref. 21/532, and (x) associated minor changes to internal roads, civil engineering, drainage, landscaping, lighting, car parking, and site works. The development alterations relate to Westmeath Planning Case Ref. 21/515, which is a development that is for an activity requiring an Industrial Emissions Licence from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
development which will consist of (i) the construction of a new Administration/Control Building at a new location within the site in lieu of the IPP Building granted under planning Ref. No. 21/515, (ii) the construction of a new Workshop Building at a new location within the site in lieu of the Administration/Workshop Building granted under Planning Ref. No. 21/515, and (iii) associated minor changes to internal roads, civil engineering, drainage, landscaping, lighting, car parking, and site works. The development alterations are with respect to Planning Ref No. 21/515, which is a development that is for the purpose of an activity requiring an Industrial Emissions Licence from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
retention of existing extension to the front and rear to include on ground floor, kitchen, dining, living area, utility, hot press, boiler, bathroom, bedroom with wardrobe and stairs and on the first floor two bedrooms, bathroom, landing and storage area with 4 velux windows and two chimneys with all ancillary site works