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Plans Appealed
It’s dead
Or is it?
Local environmental groups, as well as those raising concerns over the data centre’s impact on the local power grid, repeatedly appeal the process. The local government gives the nod to proceed in August of 2016. However, the case heads to the High Court in October once again, and isn’t resolved (Apple won again) until October the following year.
After more than four years of protracted legal battles, concessions, marches in favour of the development, and twice as many protesting it, Apple throws its hands up, scraps the project, and puts the land on the market. Perhaps sensing local animosity towards a similar project, there are no takers. The land stays up for sale until June 2021.
Two months ago, just a week after Sinn Féin Galway East representative, Louis O’Hara, said in an interview that the Irish government should buy back the land, Apple filed a request to extend its planning permission for the Galway campus for another five years. Apple’s request does stress, however, that “It is the intention that the project will be undertaken as soon as practicable.” datacentremagazine.com
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