UK faces legal challenge for attempting to force through data center development
Last year, the local authority of Buckinghamshire, England, denied planning permission for proposals to build a new 90-megawatt data center on green belt land. The green belt is a term in British town planning that refers to an area of open land on which building is restricted.
Data centers, large facilities that house floods of computing systems to enable remote delivery of various IT services, have seen huge demand in recent years amid a global rush to develop powerful new AI systems, such as OpenAI's popular ChatGPT chatbot.
At the same time, they have been met with concerns from environmental campaigners and activists due to the vast amounts of power they require to keep them running on an ongoing basis. AI, in particular, has been criticized for consuming massive amounts of energy.
Plans to develop the Buckinghamshire facility were twice rejected by the council previously. However, they were again resurrected under the Labour government, which is pushing to make the U.K. a global artificial intelligence hub by ramping up national computing capacity.
Buckinghamshire council again rejected the planned data center in June 2024, saying it would be "inappropriate" to develop it on the green belt. Then, last month, British Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner granted planning permission for the project, overturning the local authority's decision.
Campaign groups Foxglove and Global Action Plan announced on Thursday that they filed a formal planning statutory review asking a court to quash Rayner's approval of the data center, raising concerns over the vast amounts of power and water such facilities require.
"Angela Rayner appears to either not know the difference between a power station that actually produces energy and a substation that just links you to the grid — or simply not care," Foxglove Co-executive Director Rosa Curling, said in a statement Thursday.
"Either way, thanks to her decision, local people and businesses in Buckinghamshire will soon be competing with a power guzzling-behemoth to keep the lights on, which as we've seen in the States, usually means sky-high prices."
The U.K. Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government — which Rayner also leads — declined to comment on the legal action when asked about it by CNBC. The government has previously stressed the importance of building data center infrastructure to compete on a global level in AI development.
Thursday's move comes after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in January announced plans to block campaigners from making repeated legal challenges from so-called "Nimbys" to planning decisions for major infrastructure projects in England and Wales.
Nimby is a derogatory term that refers to people who protest developments they view as unpleasant or hazardous to their local area.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
a minute ago
- New York Post
James Carville says Dems should ‘kick the s— out of' JD Vance over England vacation
Veteran Democratic strategist James Carville used some colorful language on Wednesday in describing how his party should go after Vice President JD Vance for taking a vacation to the 'Martha's Vineyard of England.' During the latest episode of his 'Politics War Room' podcast with co-host Al Hunt, Carville blasted Vance both for stumping for the Big, Beautiful Bill and for planning a vacation to Oxfordshire, England, suggesting they were evidence that Vance does not care about working-class Americans. He then urged the Democratic Party to blast him for these blunders. 'Use JD Vance and just kick the s— out of him every chance you get,' he said to the Democratic Party. Hunt began the Vance-bashing by bringing up his recent stop in Georgia to sell Americans on President Donald Trump's $3.3 trillion 'Big, Beautiful Bill' that the president signed into law earlier this summer. Carville encouraged Vance to stump for the legislation, noting the bill's unpopularity, and stated that Democratic lawmakers like Sen. John Ossoff, D-Ga., should welcome the vice president's criticism for not supporting the bill. 3 James Carville flamed Vice President JD Vance over his recent vacation to Oxfordshire, England. Getty Images 'So, memo to John Ossoff, let JD Vance frame the debate. Accept his terms of the debate. As we pointed out, the most unpopular piece of legislation in recent times in this century is the big, bad bill. If they give you a gift, take the gift,' the strategist stated. Stating what he believes Ossoff should say, he continued, 'The vice president came to Georgia, and he's attacking me because I voted against this. Well, guess what? I did. And I would do it again, and again, and again, and again.' 'When you get a gift, take the g—– gift.' 3 U.S. Vice President JD Vance fishes with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy at Chevening House on August 8, 2025 in Sevenoaks, England. Getty Images He then discussed how Vance's vacation to England earlier this month is another soft spot Democratic figures should attack. 'He went on a vacation. Florida resorts are hurting. Las Vegas tourism is down substantially. National Parks – Yellowstone's down 15%,' he said. 'So, okay, he's entitled to a vacation. I'll give him that. Guess where he went? To a place called Oxfordshire in England – which is a tony, wealthy place that rich Londoners go to. Call it the Martha's Vineyard of England. And why we didn't blow this up!' 'You mean, you can't vacation, and your wife and kids, in your own country?' Carville added in outrage. 3 A view of Chevening House in Kent, England, as Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy and US Vice President JD Vance meet inside, Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. AP He urged Democrats to seize on both the vacation and the legislation at every opportunity. Hunt chimed in, 'Every Democrat, bring him into your district. You want JD Vance there.' 'Yeah, you want JD. Yeah, yeah, JD f—— Vance – going to Oxfordshire,' Carville replied. The vice president's office didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
Engadget
a minute ago
- Engadget
Google is selling a version of Gemini for government agencies
Google has announced plans to sell a custom version of its Gemini AI models for government agencies. "Gemini for Government" includes access to existing tools like NotebookLM, and "Google-quality enterprise search, video and image generation capabilities." The AI platform is in direct competition with similar offerings from OpenAI, Anthropic and xAI. A big focus of Google's pitch for Gemini for Government is the idea of automating administrative tasks with AI agents. The company touts pre-built Deep Research and Idea Generation agents that will be available to government agencies from the jump, but anyone who invests in the new AI platform will also get the ability to build custom agents of their own. Gemini for Government will also offer threat protection and data privacy features, and will be compliant with cloud security standards like Sec4 and FedRAMP. Google's offering its AI platform for $0.50 per year for government agencies, with the option to pay more for extra security features. The low price is as much an enticement as it is a jab at OpenAI and Anthropic, who both announced $1 government AI deals in the last few months. These attempts to become government AI contractors are happening in the shadow of the AI Action Plan President Donald Trump announced in July. The Trump administration's stated goal is to spur development, turn AI into an American export and remove "idealogical bias" from AI models, but the specifics of the plan are concerningly open to interpretation. Trump's proposal asks federal agencies to withhold "AI-related" funding from states with "burdensome" AI regulations. It also directs the Federal Communications Commission to assume a role in regulating AI, placing even more theoretical power in the executive branch.
Forbes
3 minutes ago
- Forbes
5 ChatGPT Prompts To Help You Improve Your Digital Marketing
By Richard D. Harroch and Dominique A. Harroch Digital marketing is all about using online platforms and digital tools to connect with your customers and grow your business. Think social media campaigns, email marketing, SEO, content creation, and targeted ads—basically everything you need to boost brand awareness, capture leads, and drive sales in today's digital world. Here's where things get interesting: AI tools like ChatGPT are becoming game-changers for marketers who want to step up their strategy. Whether you're looking to create better content, fine-tune your messaging, or optimize campaigns that actually resonate with your audience, ChatGPT can help. The key is knowing how to use the right prompts. When you master this, ChatGPT doesn't just save you time—it brings fresh ideas and perspectives you might never have thought of on your own. In this article, we'll walk you through five key areas where ChatGPT can seriously upgrade your digital marketing game, complete with practical prompts and real examples you can use right away. And yes, we definitely used AI to help us put together these prompts—why wouldn't we? Let's jump into five essential ways you can put this powerful tool to work for your marketing efforts. Digital Marketing Prompts for ChatGPT Crafting engaging social media content can significantly boost your brand's visibility and audience interaction. ChatGPT can help you generate creative ideas and compelling copy tailored to your audience. Example Prompt: "Write five engaging Instagram captions for a sustainable fashion brand launching a new summer collection. Include a call-to-action." Additional Sample Prompts: Emails remain one of the most effective marketing channels. ChatGPT can assist in crafting targeted and persuasive email copy that boosts open rates and conversions. Example Prompt: "Write a compelling subject line and introductory paragraph for an email campaign promoting a 20% discount on eco-friendly home cleaning products." Additional Sample Prompts: SEO-driven content increases organic visibility and attracts targeted traffic. ChatGPT supports content ideation, keyword integration, and compelling article structures. Example Prompt: "Write a 1000-word SEO blog post about the benefits of adopting remote work practices. Include recommended keywords." Additional Sample Prompts: Analyzing competitors can reveal insights that help refine your marketing strategy. ChatGPT can aid in structuring analyses, identifying competitive advantages, and discovering areas of improvement. Example Prompt: "Provide a structured analysis of key strengths and weaknesses of leading competitors in the online meal-kit delivery industry." Additional Sample Prompts: Effectively managing paid advertising campaigns requires concise and persuasive copy. ChatGPT can generate appealing ads tailored to specific platforms and audiences. Example Prompt: "Write three Google Ads headlines and descriptions for promoting a cloud-based project management tool targeting startups." Additional Sample Prompts: Conclusion on Using ChatGPT for Digital Marketing Incorporating ChatGPT into your digital marketing toolkit enables you to efficiently tackle various aspects of your marketing strategy with creativity and precision. From enhancing social media engagement to optimizing email campaigns and improving SEO content, ChatGPT offers versatile solutions that align with diverse marketing objectives. Embracing AI tools like ChatGPT can position your business at the forefront of digital innovation, ensuring you remain competitive and connected with your audience. Experimenting with these prompts can quickly produce tangible improvements in your marketing outcomes, making AI an indispensable ally in your digital marketing journey. More from AllBusiness: Copyright © by Richard D. Harroch. All rights reserved.
