Apple seeks extension on planning permission for axed Galway data center
Pictured: Apple's Viborg data centre in Denmark
What you need to know
- Apple is trying to shift land it bought for a data centre in Galway, Ireland.
- It has applied for an extension to planning permission originally granted in 2015.
- Local politicians have called for the state to buy the land back from Apple given it has lain dormant for some time.
Apple has applied for an extension to planning permission granted to build a $1 billion data center in Galway, Ireland, originally granted back in 2015, as it seeks to shift the plot originally put up for sale in 2019.
A new filing submitted to Galway County Council seeks an extension to planning permission granted to Apple back in 2015. Apple was seeking to build a massive data center in Derrydonnell Forest in Athenry, but the project was stalled by local opposition and legal action.
Apple put the site up for sale in 2019, and is seeking the extension on the application so that any prospective buyer would be able to develop the land. iMore understands the situation hasn't changed recently regarding a sale, and the application states that Apple's intent is "to support the provision of the consented works by identifying interested parties to develope the project who can then proceed with the consented works within the relevant timeframes."
It comes after local politicans called for the State to buy the land back from Apple, as reported by the Galway Advertiser:
Apple's filing to the council was submitted on June 22and seeks a five-year extension. Details of the filing reveal any prospective data center would consist of one single storey data center measuring a vast 24,505sqm.
The site lies east of Galway City in Connacht.
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Stephen Warwick has written about Apple for five years at iMore and previously elsewhere. He covers all of iMore's latest breaking news regarding all of Apple's products and services, both hardware and software. Stephen has interviewed industry experts in a range of fields including finance, litigation, security, and more. He also specializes in curating and reviewing audio hardware and has experience beyond journalism in sound engineering, production, and design. Before becoming a writer Stephen studied Ancient History at University and also worked at Apple for more than two years. Stephen is also a host on the iMore show, a weekly podcast recorded live that discusses the latest in breaking Apple news, as well as featuring fun trivia about all things Apple. Follow him on Twitter @stephenwarwick9