{
  "id": 16316755,
  "title": "The datacentre next door: on the frontline of tech’s latest David v Goliath battle",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/24/the-datacentre-next-door-on-the-frontline-of-techs-latest-david-v-16316755",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-24T11:00:32.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Guardian Technology",
    "slug": "guardian-technology",
    "url": "https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/oct/24/the-datacentre-next-door-on-the-frontline-of-techs-latest-david-v-goliath-battle"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In a suburban area of Newport, South Wales, residents are clashing with tech giants over the construction of a massive hyperscale datacentre. The 23-meter-high grey structure, surrounded by prefabricated panels, blots out the view of local resident Dale Johnston and his neighbors. While the authorities hail the development as a job creator, Johnston feels that the community has been treated \"disgusting\" and expresses concerns about the constant drone from the 36 air blast coolers and potential harmful fumes from the diesel generators. His wife, a nurse working night shifts, struggles to sleep due to the low hum from another facility on the datacentre campus.\n\nThe UK is witnessing a datacentre boom, with 315 hyperscale facilities planned to connect to the national grid. These new centers will require 73GW of power, 28GW higher than the typical peak energy demand of 45GW. Wales, already home to the largest datacentre capacity outside London, is one of the main development hotspots outside the capital. The Labour government, led by Keir Starmer, supports the expansion, viewing it as an inevitable revolution that must be embraced to avoid being left behind. However, anti-datacentre groups argue that the development is imposing a resource-hungry, polluting industry that benefits large US tech firms while providing little tangible benefit to local people.\n\nWhile the UK has not experienced the same level of opposition as the US, anti-datacentre groups are gaining momentum. In east London, residents are protesting against a new datacentre on Brick Lane, including demonstrating outside the offices of Communities Secretary Angela Rayner, who overturned a council decision blocking the scheme. In Loudoun County, Virginia, residents near a gas-powered datacentre have complained about the noise, health problems, and degradation of their quality of life. As the tech industry continues to invest heavily in hyperscale hubs, the battle between residents and corporate giants rages on, highlighting the profound impact of the digital revolution on communities around the world.",
  "summary": "The AI boom is pitting local residents against corporate giants seeking to power their energy-hungry networks – but one Welsh city is fighting back Dale Johnston opens the gate to his neat suburban garden on the western fringes of Newport in South Wales. There’s a trampoline and a slide on the lawn for his grandchildren, and chairs for him and his wife. He should be enjoying the light draining…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}