Plans for a 130-foot-tall AI data center in Bushey, Hertfordshire, have been put on hold following objections from a local travelers group who claim the development would indirectly discriminate against them. The proposed warehouse, slated for the site of a former hotel, is located just 10 meters from an established traveler pitch housing 27 caravans.
GATE Herts, a travelers group, argued that the scale and duration of the construction would cause "loss of amenity, sleep disturbance and environmental stress," disproportionately affecting the community, which is a recognized ethnic group protected under the Equality Act. Concerns were also raised about the project's visual impact and its strain on local water and electricity supplies.
The data center, proposed by Ark Data Centres, would comprise four buildings reaching approximately 130 feet, two substations, and a visitor reception center across 18 acres. It is projected to consume 764 million liters of water annually—equivalent to the needs of 15,000 people—and 1,900 GWh of electricity, more than four times the current consumption of the borough's residents and businesses. The construction phase is expected to last a decade.
Hertsmere councillors voted to defer their decision, citing concerns about the development's visual impact and its demand on resources. The objection comes amid growing opposition to large-scale AI data centers across the UK, with communities expressing worries about their environmental effects and developers potentially fast-tracking plans.
Further objections were lodged regarding the data center's proximity to a cemetery containing notable Jewish figures, with residents expressing distress over the potential disruption to the site's peaceful atmosphere. Homeowners also voiced concerns about noise, traffic, and the availability of sufficient water and electricity.
Data centers have faced international scrutiny for their environmental footprint, leading to moratoriums in some U.S. states and consideration of bans in Scotland. In the UK, data centers have been designated as critical national infrastructure, allowing them to bypass certain development restrictions. In 2024, British data centers consumed approximately 2,400 GWh of energy, representing 2% of the country's total energy consumption, a figure that has been steadily increasing.