Groundswell of incredulity at proposals for a massive AI data centre in the middle of the north Devon countryside
- 850 acres in total with a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) occupying 96 acres
- Twice the size of the largest AI data centre so far approved in the UK
- In open countryside
- 5 huge buildings, 40m (130 ft) high – about the height of the towers of Exeter Cathedral
Devon CPRE and Devon residents have reacted with incredulity this week as details have emerged about proposals for an 850-acre AI data centre, together with associated battery storage, on farmland between Great Torrington, Huntshaw and Weare Giffard.
The proposals were presented by Xlinks, the company behind the stalled Morocco-UK Power Project, at a public meeting at Great Torrington Town Hall on Thursday 25th June and in a private online meeting with representatives of Devon CPRE, the only local charity that campaigns to protect Devon’s countryside from inappropriate and unwanted development.
Thursday evening’s public meeting, independently chaired by Sir Geoffrey Cox KC, Member of Parliament for Torridge and Tavistock, was the first opportunity for local people to find out more about Xlinks’ proposals for its Devon Data Campus. So many people attended the meeting that many were unable to gain entry.
What’s been ascertained so far about the proposed Devon Data Campus:
- The site would cover a total of 850 acres with five separate huge buildings at a height of 40m, nearly the height of Exeter Cathedral’s towers
- The 1800 MW BESS containing lithium-ion phosphate batteries would cover 96 acres
- The industrial-scale development would be twice the size of the largest AI data centre campus to be granted outline approval in the UK to date
- The proposed site has multiple landowners and 10% of it would be Grade 3a farmland, the rest mainly 3b
- IT load 1.5GW. Peak site load 1.8GW
- Xlinks intends to submit two separate planning applications to Torridge District Council in October (one for the AI data centre and one for the BESS).
- If approved, construction is scheduled to take place between 2028 and 2034.
- Xlinks has never built an AI data centre before.
The largest AI data centre approved in the UK so far is in North Lincolnshire. The Elsham Tech Park development, put forward as part of a wider Northern Lincolnshire AI Growth Zone, would occupy about 176ha (435 acres) next to Elsham Wolds Industrial Estate. This Devon one would be almost twice as big and right in the middle of the countryside.
Director of Devon CPRE, Penny Mills, who attended an informal meeting with Xlinks, says, “I think most people who live in northern Devon would be dumbstruck to discover that anyone can think it’s at all suitable to build a massive AI data centre and gigantic Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) within Devon’s rolling hills and verdant valleys. We weren’t at all reassured by what Xlinks’ team told us, quite the contrary. We believe this will be an unnecessary, unsuitable, unsightly blot on the landscape, visible for miles around. How can a development of this size with 40 m high buildings possibly be screened?
“Xlinks claims it will result in 650 – 1,200 on-site permanent jobs, but in our view that doesn’t justify such wanton destruction of the countryside and we don’t believe that will be the case, as these data centres are highly automated operations. Our understanding is that they provide surprisingly few permanent on site jobs once they are built. We also have serious concerns about the huge amount of water that will be needed to cool the servers and the noise they will generate. From our meeting it emerged that Xlinks think that some rainwater will be used for cooling and that they are ‘aiming’ for no additional noise above background at the site boundary.
“Devon CPRE has already been deluged with comments from members who are justifiably extremely concerned about a gargantuan, water-guzzling, industrial development, including a large Battery Energy Storage System, with the fire risks BESS entail, slap bang in the middle of north Devon’s green hills. We will be formulating our response to the project over the coming weeks, as these plans develop, but our initial reaction is one of utter disbelief and horror. Does anyone at Torridge District Council even have the expertise to decide on a development like this, with the potential to have a disastrous impact on the environment and people’s lives? “
Beyond the recent meetings, Xlinks were going to be holding a series of Public Information Days across the area from 14 to 17 July, but these have now been postponed, with a consultation open until 11 August, during which people can examine the plans, raise questions and respond directly. Full details are available at devondatacampus.com
Penny adds, “Devon CPRE has decades of experience in complex planning matters. We are the ONLY organisation in the county who does, and we know that to effectively fight such an enormous project needs a professional, coordinated approach. We hope people who are concerned about this will get behind us and join as members so we can ensure their voices are heard.”
To become a member and support the work of Devon CPRE, visit cpredevon.org.uk/join-us/