(WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) — A massive data center in North Lanarkshire, Scotland has been approved by the local council, despite the mounting controversy surrounding the build.
Proposed by the Gillespie Investments Group, the data center will be constructed on a 66-hectare site.
Initially, planning officials made a move to reject the application, but council members decided to proceed with the build in a 35 to 10 vote.
Dr. David Telford of Gillespie said that it was vital that the facility be located beside the energy from waste incinerator and recycling plant in order “to attract key players to the site.”
The $376 data center project will provide 30 to 40 jobs and 214 full-time construction jobs.
More importantly, the build will bring $226 million of value including $17 million in tax rates to the Plains and North Lanarkshire area, transforming it into to a major information industry hub.
Though the application was solely for permission in principle, the company also included more detailed plans for eight data storage buildings, a back-up generator, office, boundary fencing and landscaping.
Councillors visited the site in advance of the planned hearings committee, before being addressed by Gillespie representatives Stuart McGarvie and Telford and by Elspeth Wright of Plains community council, on behalf of the six objectors.
In other news, Scottish data center operator Lockerbie Data Centres’ proposed $1.5 billion data center near Lockerbie, Scotland was recently approved by Dumfries & Galloway Council.
