Latest news with #FleurAlbrecht
BBC News
17-06-2025
- Science
- BBC News
Data centre targeting London's green belt
"What they want to do here is a warning to anyone else: if you think you have got green belt and you think it will be there forever, say goodbye to it."Fleur Albrecht is protesting against a huge development on land near to her home. She is passionate and angry. In a yellowing wheat field, next to an oak tree, we are standing on the front line of huge changes to London's green is 85 acres of green belt on the edge of London between Potters Bar and the South Mimms service station. It is criss-crossed by footpaths and looks like it is used a is where a Europe's largest cloud and AI data centre will be built, the aim to provide jobs and economic growth. Ms Albrecht says the data centre will devastate the green belt here."This is the lungs of London. We are so lucky to have this open green space," she tells BBC London. "My house is 75 metres away from massive big sheds that they want to build on this green belt."It's going to affect the enjoyment of coming out here. It's a massive amount of sky, birdsong, see the seasons change - all of that will be gone." A group of residents against the data centre are by the an tree. They have tied ribbons to it and posters. Carmen Rampersad lives locally. "I'm completely against it," she says. "One of the biggest worries I have is the consultation process. It hasn't been transparent, it hasn't been open and the vast majority of the people in this community are just finding out that this is happening after it has been approved."There's a school 400 metres away from where the boundary will be and I think those children have a voice."From the information that I do know about data centres, I do know they use incredible amounts of resources for their cooling systems, be it water or energy. I don't know where they're going to tap into that here. But environmentally I think it's going to be catastrophic." Bunty Shah is a protester who worries about the potential health impact of the project."Potters Bar is a sleepy commuter town surrounded by the M25," she says. "What you see here is the lungs of Potters Bar. You take this away there is going to be a lot of health effects for people that live here. "There's already issues with asthma because we are surrounded by the M25 so I think it's ridiculous they want to put a data centre here on our bit of green belt that protects us from the M25." Colin Shepherd has lived in the area all his life."It's unbelievable," he says. "Why do they want to build something like that here on premium farmland? "It's a place for people to come and walk and just enjoy the countryside and it seems terrible to cast it aside as 'grey belt' when it actually isn't. I think the people of Potters Bar will be up in arms about it." 17 London data centres planned London and the South East house some of Europe's biggest data centres. For example, Slough is now considered to be the largest data centre hub in data centres are where pretty much anything on your phone or computer is stored - the cloud, websites, social media, pictures, music and are on the way, particularly with the rise of artificial to figures from construction researchers Barbour ABI, developers are applying to build 17 data centres in London, as well as another 39 in the Home Counties. The developer dc01uk says: "Providing up to two million square feet of data centre floor area on land east of South Mimms Services, this facility will generate approximately 200 new highly skilled jobs and investment on this site, in addition to new employment opportunities during the construction phase, and significant investment value generated indirectly through the delivery of the project."It also says the land should be seen as grey belt, which the government says can be used for development."Whilst technically designated as green belt, the land performs poorly against the purposes of the green belt, being adjacent to South Mimms Services and the M25, and benefits from being set in a valley, meaning development can come forward in a sensitive way. The site can therefore be characterised as grey belt."The developer also says it intends to also create wildlife habitats."The proposals come with plans to deliver significant biodiversity enhancements to ensure that we exceed 10% biodiversity net gain," it said. "Our proposals are landscape-led, with over 54% of the site being retained and enhanced as open space. Hundreds of new trees will be planted on site, and three landscaped belts will surround the proposed buildings, to the north, east and south of the site." Data centres are resource-hungry and use a lot of electricity to keep the servers cool and the internet also use a lot of water for cooling. In the 2022 drought, Thames Water looked at how much water data centres in the area were Grid's chief executive, John Pettigrew, has previously said that the power data centres use will increase sixfold in the next said the grid was becoming "constrained" and "bold action" was needed to create a network able to cope with "dramatically" growing demand. 'Balancing act' The local Hertsmere Borough Council has given the data centre the go-ahead. The leader Jeremy Newmark is unapologetic."It's about ensuring this borough is benefiting from the country's digital future," he told BBC London. "It's about ensuring we are playing our role in the national growth mission. It's about powering jobs, building the skills we need around here and ensuring key parts of our economy have access to high-quality bandwidth they require."It's always going to be a balancing act. In this case we have made a judgement call and that's what leadership is about. "It's about making the choices that are right for this area. In fact my experience is the vast majority of people who have looked at this think it is the right thing as they understand that this area has a critical role to play in the new digital economy."This is very low-performing green-belt land. In this instance, we think sacrificing a small amount of green belt is worth it."
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rayner accused of ‘annihilating' green belt in tech blitz
Angela Rayner has been accused of 'annihilating' the green belt to build Europe's largest data centre just outside of London. A Government-backed plan to build the new £3.75bn complex – which is twice the size of Heathrow Terminal 4 – near Potters Bar in Hertfordshire, was approved by the local council in January. However, residents are now calling for the decision to be revoked, arguing that developers misrepresented their plans and that locals were not properly consulted. They also raised concerns about the designation of the site as 'grey belt' under Labour's planning reforms earmarking 'poor quality and ugly' parts of protected green belt land for development. Fleur Albrecht, chairman of the residents' group opposing the plans, said: 'We're not opposed to data centres per se, but what we're opposed to is the complete destruction of our green belt. 'This is going to be the first impact of many, I believe, other developments that are going to completely encircle the town and change the character of Potters Bar and just annihilate the green belt. 'It's devastating, it really is. I know nothing is forever, but you would have hoped that the green belt when it was set up offered protection, and it doesn't.' The group, which counts dozens of local residents among its members, has written a letter of complaint to Hertsmere Borough Council and Ms Rayner and is calling for a fresh public consultation. The data centre, dubbed DC01UK, is expected to be the largest in Europe, covering up to 2m sq ft of floor space on an 85-acre site close to the A1 and M25. It is a joint venture between renewable energy firm Chiltern Green Energy and property developer Griggs Homes. Developers have said the data centre, which could be up and running in 2029, will play a critical role in meeting rising demand amid the growth of AI, cloud computing and data-heavy services such as streaming. They have said the site will support at least 200 new local jobs and contribute around £1.1bn to the local economy. Peter Kyle, the Technology Secretary, has backed the plans, which he branded a 'vote of confidence' in the Government's growth strategy. But the development has been met with a backlash owing to concerns about scores of power generators that will need to be tested once a month, a 'humming' from the data centre cabinets and night-time light pollution from the main buildings. Residents warned of a particular impact on children given the close proximity to the prestigious Dame Alice Owen's School, as well as the impact on local equestrian facilities. The campaign group also took aim at Hertsmere Borough Council for the handling of the planning application. They accused developers of 'misrepresenting' the location of the site and said both the company and the council failed to carry out meaningful public consultation on the proposals. Ms Albrecht said residents' concerns had been 'completely ignored' by the council, adding: 'It also should send out alarm bells to anywhere else that this can happen because environmental concerns, public opinion actually counts for nothing.' Oliver Dowden, the former deputy prime minister and MP for Hertsmere, has previously hit out at the proposals, branding Labour's planning reforms 'destructive'. A spokesman for Hertsmere Borough Council said a consultation on the proposals had been carried out in line with the Government's requirements for publicising planning applications. They added: 'The report considered by the council's planning committee makes it clear that the application was considered on its own merits in the context of national and local planning policy. The report clearly sets out the relevant planning matters including a careful analysis of the green belt issues.' A spokesman for DC01UK said: 'DC01UK's scheme will deliver nearly £4bn in investment, create hundreds of new jobs, and bring significant local improvements, including enhanced roads, bus routes, footpaths and an expanded local bike hire scheme. More than half of the site will be preserved as green space. 'Before, during and after the application process, DC01UK has closely engaged with local stakeholders, including hosting a public exhibition, alongside two council consultations. The application was also thoroughly assessed by the council's case officer and approved through a full and transparent process.' The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government was contacted for comment. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
