I used to live in a quiet area - now a data centre overlooks my garden
With the number of UK data centres set to rise, some communities are concerned about their impact.
Amanda Young lives in Newport, a place that used to be quiet and peaceful. However, a large data centre is now overlooking her family's garden. The rise in data centres across the UK is due to the growing need for processing power, particularly for artificial intelligence (AI) applications. These data centres are substantial buildings filled with powerful computers that run various digital services, from online banking to movie streaming.
The UK government considers them critical national infrastructure, as most UK jobs are now dependent on them.
Amanda's primary concerns are the noise, visual impact, and potential effect on house prices in her neighborhood. Her neighbor, Anthony, also complains about the noise and increased traffic caused by the construction of the data centre. Vantage Data Center, the company behind the project, assures that they are committed to being good neighbors and will work closely with local authorities to manage construction activities. They have implemented measures to protect the local environment.
Cardiff City Council has also examined proposals for data centres in the area, including a planned campus in Llanrumney. The park-and-ride facility, crucial for some residents, is under scrutiny due to the proposed data centre. Cardiff and Vale University Health Board emphasizes the importance of the park-and-ride link for transport services.
The company developing the data centre claims that it will not strain the energy grid or water infrastructure and that their water and drainage requirements have been developed in consultation with Welsh Water.
Data centres are a significant source of electricity demand, with requests for grid connection rising from 41GW to 125GW in the past year. They also use substantial amounts of water, approximately 6.6 million liters daily. The environmental group, Friends of the Earth, is advocating for a nationwide pause on new data centres until clear rules are established regarding their energy consumption.
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