COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & PLANNING SPC
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
HEADED ITEM NO. 6
Update on Grange Castle
The Council is pleased to announce that Microsoft has confirmed that it proposes to locate it’s new European data centre in Grange Castle Business Park, Clondalkin.
Planning permission has already been granted for the $500 million (€343.6 million) 51,000 sq. metre data centre. Work has now commenced and the data centre is due to open in May 2009.
Grange Castle will be the main data centre for Microsoft in the European Middle East and Africa region to support it’s “software and services” strategy of offering more of it’s applications as services over the internet under the “Live” brand.
It will be the third data centre and the first outside the U.S. that Microsoft has built to support “Live” which is seen as the key in winning ground back from Google. The other facilities are in Washington state and Texas.
While the facility will not directly generate a large number of jobs the Councils takes great pride in that it has, in partnership with the IDA, persuaded on of the world's largest and well known corporations to locate in South Dublin which is due in part to the high standard and environment of the Park.
In partnership with the IDA we are continuing to promote and market Grange Castle Business Park internationally. Over recent months a number of potential clients have visited the Park and we are awaiting news of their decision.
Following the failure of the Menolly Group to proceed with the development of the proposed leisure/residential facility at Grange Castle Golf Course the Council sought further expressions of interest in the proposed development and on receipt of these the Council has now invited tenders for the proposed development with a closing date of 29th February 2008.