Britain’s Datacentre Boom: A Toxic Trade-Off?

The proposed East Havering Data Centre Campus in North Ockendon has sparked outrage among environmentalists and local residents due to its massive carbon footprint. The development would generate more CO2 emissions than 27,000 flights to New York annually.

This is not an isolated case of a polluting datacentre, but rather a symptom of the UK’s rapid expansion of AI infrastructure. Datacentres are being designated as “critical national infrastructure,” which has enabled developers to bypass local planning procedures and seek approval directly from central government. This has led to a surge in applications, with datacentre developers requesting 72.8GW of electricity connections by 2039 – nearly 60% more than the UK’s peak power demand last year.

The EHDCC alone would consume as much energy as over 1 million UK households and generate enough CO2 to almost single-handedly blow out the entire carbon budget of the borough of Havering. These emissions have far-reaching implications for Britain’s climate targets, which are already under pressure from other sectors.

The government’s silence on this matter is notable. In January, planning legislation was amended to enable datacentre developers to apply directly for nationally significant infrastructure projects, bypassing local authorities and public consultation. The national policy statement for the sector, promised by the now disbanded department for science, innovation and technology (DSIT), has yet to materialise.

Donald Campbell, advocacy director at Foxglove, believes that datacentres are a “big threat to the ability to decarbonize in the UK.” North Ockendon Residents Association describes the development as a “massacre” of green belt land. The fact that these developments largely serve wealthy corporations while placing social and environmental costs on the public is a stark reminder of inequality.

The solution, Campbell suggests, lies in requiring datacentre developers to build additional renewable generation and storage to supply their facilities. This would not only reduce emissions but also create jobs and stimulate local economies. The government’s current approach – relying largely on “cash in lieu” contributions to carbon offset funds – is insufficient.

As the EHDCC consultation comes to a close, it’s clear that this development is just one cog in a much larger machine. Britain’s datacentre boom has the potential to either accelerate or decelerate our transition to net zero emissions. The government must take concrete steps to ensure that public and environmental costs are not borne by the public alone – but by the corporations profiting from these developments.

A revised proposal for the EHDCC is expected later this year, but it’s unlikely to address the fundamental issue at hand: the toxic trade-off between Britain’s AI ambitions and its climate commitments. Until the government takes bold action to reconcile these competing interests, we will continue to see projects like the EHDCC being proposed – and public opposition growing.

As the clock ticks towards 2030 and beyond, one thing is clear: Britain’s datacentre boom has become a ticking time bomb for its climate targets. Will the government act to defuse it, or will we continue down a path of polluting progress at any cost? The choice is theirs – but the consequences are ours to bear.