Councillors back motion calling for stricter criteria for approval of data centre planning applications

DERRY City and Strabane District Council has called for stricter criteria for the approval of planning applications for data centres.

At January’s council meeting, members approved a joint motion by independent councillors, Gary Donnelly, Paul Gallagher and Raymond Barr, and People Before Profit councillor, Shaun Harkin, requesting a paper on council’s potential to adopt a specific corporate position when dealing with future planning applications for data centres in the council area.

The motion followed a response from the Minister for Infrastructure, to a council request for a regional policy, which places responsibility on local government for policy and oversight of data centre applications.

It outlined a number of stipulations which would have to be adhered to for a data centre to be greenlit, including guarantees that increased electricity and water demands will not compromise the delivery of social housing, healthcare, education, or water/wastewater services or result in higher electricity prices or reduced energy availability for homes and businesses.

Additionally, the motion called for data centres not to be built within Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and stipulates that they must not increase the risk of blackouts or curtailment, or rely on the burning of fossil fuels, and not increase regional greenhouse gas emissions.

The motion also calls for any future date centres not to be used to power systems that facilitate war crimes, or necessitate new renewable energy infrastructure that exists only to meet its own energy need.

Councillor Gallagher said that while major planning applications are subject to assessment under the Planning Act (2011) and the Strategic Planning Policy Statement (SPPS), council must implement further policies and environmental impact assessments on data centres, as they have a “significant impact effect on the environment”.

Speaking to the motion, councillor Gallagher said: “Our planning committee needs policies that are about pre-commencement rather than conditions after the fact.

He said they must ensure “data centres will not compromise electricity and supply to essential users.”

“They need to be around the habitat and biodiversity protections, flood risks and mitigation, landscape impacts, and climate change impact.”

Councillor Donnelly said council had been “abandoned” by the Infrastructure and Economy Ministers, as their departments would be best suited to develop a “coordinated and much-needed strategic policy” for data centres.

He added: “In my view both Ministers have abdicated their public duty to provide local authorities with this strategic policy on data centres, that will have major impacts on climate and energy security for the six counties and on the island.

“It also will lead to inconsistencies when different councils adopt different approaches in the absence of strategic policy and oversight.

“This council is actively trying to attract data centres to set up shop here. With that comes responsibilities to our citizens and to future generations.

“Adopting the corporate position set out in this motion will ensure this council’s words about being serious on climate change are transformed into actions.”

Sinn Féin councillor, Christopher Jackson, amended the motion, asking that council invite representatives from SONI (System Operator for Northern Ireland), the Energy Regulator and the Department for the Economy to give a deputation.

Councillor Jackson said that while his party was supportive of the motion, any policy must be evidence-based and speaking with representatives would be “extremely beneficial for council”.

“It’s to inform the paper from council,” he clarified. “We’ve got amazing council officers but none of them are experts in relation to energy security.

“So let’s bring the experts in, let’s listen to them, and that could help inform any paper that could shape a council policy.”