Council u-turn on data centres welcomed by Save The Moat and The Environmental Gathering

Campaign groups Save The Moat and The Environmental Gathering have welcomed the passing of a Derry City and Strabane District Council motion calling for urgent strategic direction on data centre development.

The groups also highlighted what they described as "the sharp turnaround by political parties who previously dismissed similar proposals earlier this year".

The motion passed at full Council on 25 June, 2025, was brought by Independent councillors Paul Gallagher, Gary Donnelly and Raymond Barr, and Cllr Shaun Harkin (PBP). It called for the Ministers for Infrastructure and Economy to urgently develop a coordinated strategy for managing data centre planning applications.

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It highlighted the risks that large-scale energy users pose to energy security, climate obligations, and household affordability — key concerns long raised by campaigners.

The two groups, first raised concerns about the "unchecked growth" of data centres in a joint presentation to the Environment and Regeneration Committee of Derry City and Strabane District Council on February 12, 2025.

This followed the discovery that four data centres had been given outline planning permission at Foyle Port, including one of the four that had already received full planning permission.

A spokesperson for the groups said: "[At that time] It appeared that no consideration had been given to the Climate Change Act (NI) 2022 during these planning decisions, despite their obvious implications for energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions. In light of this, the groups urged the Council to seek further clarity on the cumulative energy and climate impact of data centre development before approving any further applications.

"During the campaigners' formal deputation to Council, their proposals, including requests for planning guidance, transparency on energy consumption, and clarity on compliance with the Climate Change Act (NI) 2022 — were rejected by a vote of 30 to 4, with members of Sinn Féin, the SDLP, the DUP opposing them.

“We’re glad this issue is finally being taken seriously, but let’s be clear: the Council had the opportunity to show leadership back in February,” said a member of The Environmental Gathering. “Instead, we were dismissed, our evidence was labelled ‘questionable,’ and our reasonable proposals were voted down. One councillor even compared our suggestions to fascism — a completely inappropriate and inflammatory remark. We welcome this motion, but it’s also an important reminder that campaigners with very real concerns, are often not taken seriously.

“We heard from councillors who voted against us in February now citing our very same points about energy fairness, emissions, and housing gridlocks. We’re glad they’re catching up. We’re pleased the Council is finally moving in the right direction, but the public should know that campaigners raised these red flags months ago and were ignored. The same parties that voted down our proposals are now quoting the same statistics back to us. What has changed?” asked the spokesperson.

"During the June debate, multiple councillors acknowledged that data centres now consume over 20% of electricity in the Republic, with major grid implications across the island; that no government policy exists in the North to manage their impact; and that recent legal rulings (e.g. on the A5) require real compliance with climate law, not box-ticking," added the spokesperson.

During the Derry City and Strabane District Council debate Cllr Shaun Harkin stated: It is clear that just from reading what legislators are saying in the South… they are saying that data centres are hijacking the energy grid and actually blocking the development of desperately needed housing.

“There are huge profits being made from it. But clearly we have a situation where it’s out of control in the South, because the government there has had an enabling culture when it’s come to data centres, and actually doesn’t have a strategy to address the housing crisis.”

“We don’t want to be in a situation where our ability to connect houses to the grid is challenged because there’s no policies, there’s no legislation, there’s no guidelines around data centres," said Cllr Harkin.

The spokesperson for Save The Moat and The Environmental Gathering added that the recent A5 judicial review ruling "reinforces the need for coordinated and legally compliant planning by government departments".

"In this context, it is deeply concerning that no coordinated or strategic government policy currently exists in Northern Ireland to monitor or manage the greenhouse gas emissions and energy security impacts of data centres — despite their substantial and growing footprint on the island’s grid.

"Paragraph 129 of the judgment criticises DfI’s approach as a 'It will be alright on the night’ attitude' — a damning indictment of the Department’s failure to proactively plan and assess impacts. This same complacency appears to be at play with regard to large-scale energy consumers and emitters like data centres.

"We believe the Minister must now take responsibility for developing the required sectoral planning policies to address the energy security and greenhouse gas implications of data centre expansion. This includes fulfilling statutory obligations under the Climate Change Act and ensuring that planning decisions are guided by robust, forward-looking policy rather than reactive or piecemeal approaches," said the spokesperson.

The groups reaffirmed their commitment to climate action, energy justice, and the protection of rural communities.

"Local residents are already doing their part — cutting emissions through solar power, insulation, and other community-led initiatives," they added.

"We deserve a planning system that prioritises the public good over unchecked corporate expansion. We will continue to advocate for stronger planning guidance, full compliance with climate legislation, and a just energy transition — one that safeguards rural communities, protects designated landscapes, and keeps energy affordable for all."

The groups also highlighted recent developments elsewhere which "confirm growing concern over the unchecked growth of data centres.  

On 1 May 2025, Gerry Carroll MLA (PBP) asked the Minister for Infrastructure whether large-scale data centre proposals would be classified as Regionally Significant Developments under Section 26 of the Planning Act.

In a written response, the Minister admitted there is currently no threshold for data centres under the regional significance criteria, and that no specific guidance is being developed — although a review is now underway as part of the Planning Improvement Programme.

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In a separate reply, Dr Caoimhe Archibald MLA, Minister for the Economy, acknowledged that meeting Climate Act targets would require 2–2.5GW of additional renewables — the equivalent of dozens of wind or solar farms — and recognised that data centres, while economically beneficial, posed potential energy capacity and environmental challenges.

In addition, in a recent Parliamentary Question submitted to the Irish Government, Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín TD asked whether there had been any consultation between Derry City and Strabane District Council or the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland, and energy bodies such as EirGrid or ESB, regarding the electricity demand of four proposed data centres in the Derry area.

The Save The Moat and The Environmental Gathering spokesperson added: "Peadar Tóibín's question highlights the growing concern about the lack of cross-border coordination in the all-island electricity market and the potential strain such developments could place on shared energy systems and climate targets."