The site had been shortlisted as a new site for Google’s European data centre in July 2017, the tech giant having purchased the land the same year, along with a number of other sites in Denmark, Sweden and Austria, to name a few.

Just hours before Monday’s meeting, mayor Jos Schummer (CSV) told Delano’s sister site, Paperjam, that although he wasn’t banking on unanimity, the issue is “an important [one] for the commune, even the entire country.”

Google’s investment in Bissen could, in fact, amount to 1bn euros.

As Schummer further pointed out, elected officials “believe that if Google arrives, the state will, for example, do the necessary regarding roads”, and that the project would bring about “greater well-being, particularly via tax benefits for our commune.” 

A public inquiry can now be launched, following which the land can be reallocated. After that, the ball’s in Google’s court in terms of proposing a development plan.