UK Communities Fight 315 Datacentres as Cardiff Councillor Opposes 150MW Scheme
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Oct 24
UK Communities Fight 315 Datacentres as Cardiff Councillor Opposes 150MW Scheme
2 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Oct 24
Summary
More UK communities are mobilising against hyperscale datacentres, with Cardiff councillor Lee Bridgeman reversing course and formally objecting to a proposed 150MW facility after local backlash.
1,200 planning objections have already been lodged against the Cardiff plan, which would replace an NHS park-and-ride and could use seven gas turbines; residents fear noise, air pollution and falling property values.
315 hyperscale projects are waiting for UK grid connections, together seeking 73GW of power—28GW above a typical 45GW winter peak—driving developers toward gas-backed sites outside London, especially in Wales.
Wales already has the biggest datacentre capacity outside London, and five of its largest new or proposed sites would consume more electricity than all Welsh homes combined, complicating net-zero goals and intensifying scrutiny of who benefits.