PLANS for a new data centre in Newport have been given the go-ahead despite parking and air quality concerns. Newport City Council’s planning committee agreed to grant permission for a new two-storey data centre on land south of The Courtyard at Imperial Park near Next Generation Data’s current centre. Concerns had been raised by residents in advance of the meeting about parking and noise disturbance, which was echoed by councillors. Councillors also raised concerns over the air quality, but these were alleviated by the planning officers. An artist's impression of the new data centre by Atkins Cllr John Guy said: “It’s fantastic to see this futuristic development but my concern is the scientific emissions and the actual sound.”