The news that Iris Data Centre developer, Atlantic Hub, has been granted planning permission to establish a Data Centre Campus at the Foyle Port Innovation Park has been widely welcomed across Derry and the North West as fantastic news for our local economy.

The Atlantic Hub Data Centre Campus will be one of the largest phased infrastructure developments ever undertaken in our region. Once fully developed, the centre will provide 120MW of capacity across multiple buildings at Foyle Port Innovation Park, making it a key component of data infrastructure locally, regionally, and internationally.

Foyle Port’s strategic location will offer the data centre campus access to locally generated energy from certified renewable sources. This development is a testament to the transformative work being done at Foyle Port and in the North West, showcasing the port’s evolution from a traditional port into a hub for both the global tech sector and renewable energy, all while maintaining its historic cruise tourism offering.

The proximity of Foyle Port to Ulster University’s highly skilled, IT-focused graduates is another major advantage. This talent pool will only grow with the implementation of City Deal funding, the expansion of the Cognitive Analytics Research Laboratory (CARL), and the establishment of the Centre for Industrial Digitalisation, Robotics, and Automation (CIDRA). Graduating students will be a natural fit not only for the data centre industry but also for any tech companies looking to set up in the region.

The news that Atlantic Hub is also progressing with a twin campus development in County Donegal is very encouraging. It signals that the North West region’s potential to become a competitive data centre hub, capable of attracting further investment, is now being realized.

Brian Doherty, Managing Director at Atlantic Hub, commented:

“After a significant period of preparation, we are delighted to obtain planning permission to begin construction of our flagship development project – a significant milestone for the company.

“Our investment reflects the wealth of economic opportunities on offer in the region with some of the highest achieving secondary level schools in UK and Ireland. With unique access to both the UK and EU markets, I believe this development is set to attract some of the largest global companies and investors in the coming years and form the core technology infrastructure as can be the regional catalyst for significant growth in the sector”.

We at Derry Chamber warmly welcome the fact that this enormous project, which is on a global scale, has chosen the North West as its region for investment. Clearly recognising the potential the North West has to offer, from the first-class Foyle Port that serves as a crucial point of connectivity and innovation, to our highly skilled local graduate market and innovative businesses – many of whom are pioneers in the sustainability and energy sectors, this will have a significant impact on our region’s economy. We eagerly look forward to witnessing the potential this investment can unlock.