Google has obtained planning permission for a third phase expansion of its data centre operations in South Dublin, reversing a decision made more than two years earlier when local authorities blocked the project on electricity infrastructure grounds. An Coimisiún Pleanála, Ireland's planning appeals body, overturned South Dublin County Council's August 2024 refusal and approved the extension at Grange Castle Business Park, according to reporting by The Irish Times. The approved scheme encompasses a 72,400 sq m data storage facility on a 50-acre site.
From rejection to reversal
The local council had rejected Google's expansion proposal citing "existing insufficient capacity in the electricity network [grid] and the lack of significant on-site renewable energy to power the data centre". Google filed an appeal in September 2024 to An Bord Pleanála, which was renamed An Coimisiún Pleanála in 2025.
In its appeal, Google contended that the council had erred in its assessment, pointing out that Google Ireland had already obtained an EirGrid connection for the extension in 2021. The company also argued that determining network capacity availability fell outside the council's remit. An Coimisiún Pleanála sided with Google, granting a ten-year permission for the expansion including the new data storage facility and related infrastructure.
Conditions attached to approval
The planning permission comes with substantial requirements that keep energy and environmental considerations at the forefront. Beyond mandates for power purchase agreements and backup generation capacity, Google must implement employee incentives for public transport use, cycling and walking. The company is also obligated to increase ecological value on the site and carry out mitigation measures identified in environmental assessments.
A Google spokesperson responded positively to the decision: "Data centres are an essential part of Ireland's ambitious digital economy and we want to support that." The company stated it was grateful for the approval and committed to continuing infrastructure investment in Ireland to serve growing demand for its services. The expansion is projected to generate up to 50 permanent jobs upon completion, with hundreds of construction positions during the building phase.
Electricity demand and planning precedent
The approval reflects a broader tension in Ireland over how data centres strain the national power system. Data centre electricity consumption reached nearly a quarter of Ireland's total in 2025, up from 5% a decade earlier, according to figures cited by The Irish Times. This shift has made grid capacity a central factor in planning decisions for new digital infrastructure projects.
The Google case illustrates how planning authorities now assess energy availability alongside traditional development criteria. Developers must demonstrate that their facilities' power needs align with existing infrastructure, not merely that the facility itself meets planning standards. While An Coimisiún Pleanála reached a different conclusion than the local council, the conditions imposed on Google's approval ensure that energy sourcing and environmental responsibility remain embedded in the project's requirements.
The planning decision may still face judicial review in the coming weeks, meaning construction is not yet certain to commence immediately.
