Facebook has got the official green light for its major data centre in Meath after An Bord Pleanala rejected an appeal against the granting of planning permission.

In July, Meath county council approved the plans for the data centre to be built in Clonee in south Meath.

However it was appealed to An Bord Pleanala but it was confirmed today (Friday) that the board has upheld the original granting of permission by Meath county council.

The €200 million data centre is to be built in two phases over the next decade and will be on a landscaped site of 220 acres.

Welcoming the news, the chief executive of Meath county council, Jackie Maguire said: “This is a very good day for Meath. This Council worked closely with the company and the IDA to deliver this important project for Ireland and for the county and it is encouraging to see that effort rewarded and to have our decision to grant permission endorsed.”

Kevin Stewart, the Council’s director of planning and enterprise said the council had first engaged with Facebook on the project more than a year ago.

It has been a long road to get to this point but it is very satisfying to see the efforts of our planning and enterprise team come to fruition,” he said.