Ireland’s High Court on Wednesday rejected an appeal against Apple’s plans to build an 850 million euro (approximately $1 billion) data center in Ireland, clearing the way for the project to proceed, reports Reuters.
Last month Apple was finally given permission by Ireland’s High Court to build a new data centre in Athenry, County Galway. Justice Paul McDermott ruled that Apple should be granted permission to build the data centre on Ireland’s west coast. Seán Kyne, Ireland’s minister for community development, natural resources, and digital development, said it was “very positive news for Galway and the West of Ireland.”
However, two Athenry (Ireland) residents Allan Daly and Sinead Fitzpatrick have requested a certificate to appeal the decision. The pair had challenged the grant of planning permission to Apple for an €850 million data centre at woodland in Derrydonnell, arguing that An Bord Pleanala had not carried out a proper environmental impact assessment of Apple’s overall plans before granting permission for the development, which comprises the first of two data centers. That request has been denied.
Apple planned to start building the data center on a 500-acre site before the end of 2015. However, it was delayed when unhappy Irish citizens lodged formal complaints with the Irish government. Complainants argued that the data centre would increase noise and light pollution, flooding, and traffic.
