Residents of Coedkernew, Wales, have voiced strong objections to a new 65ft-high data center, which they describe as a "humming monstrosity" that has irrevocably altered their countryside views and diminished local wildlife. The Vantage data center, built just yards from homes that include properties valued at over £1 million, has replaced idyllic vistas with a silver metal warehouse structure.
Construction of the facility, which houses powerful computers essential for services ranging from artificial intelligence to online banking, caused vibrations and dust that necessitated regular window cleaning for nearby homeowners. Residents report hearing a low humming noise from the site even before its full operational status and are concerned about anticipated increases in noise and traffic.
The new infrastructure has been classified as critical national infrastructure by the UK government, with research indicating that a majority of jobs are now reliant on such facilities. However, for the homeowners in Coedkernew, the development has brought a significant decline in their quality of life. Birds and bats, once common in the area, have reportedly become scarce.
Some residents fear the data centers could become targets in times of conflict, drawing parallels to recent drone attacks on Amazon Web Services facilities in the Middle East. The local community feels their objections were disregarded by Newport planners aiming to transform the area into a "science city."
Dale Johnston, a retired chemical company operator living on the "front line" adjacent to the 46-acre site, described the scene as "apocalyptic." He noted that the planned protective bund was insufficient, leaving his kitchen window view entirely dominated by the data center. "It was once just fields but the birds and the bats have disappeared," Johnston stated. He is one of four homeowners whose windows have been cleaned by Vantage due to construction dust.
Andrea Rogerson-Hewett, a senior administrator, blamed Newport City Council, stating, "They have pushed it through under the radar, we had no idea they were building something like this at the end of our gardens." She expressed frustration, adding, "I'm miserable all the time with this data centre being so close. There should have been compulsory purchase on our properties."
No homeowners have received financial compensation for the impact of the data center, which comprises four large pods. Residents are particularly apprehensive about the potential noise from backup generators during power outages. Amanda Young, a childminder, highlighted the uncertainty surrounding the new technology, saying, "That's our biggest concern, the unknown. We don't know what we are facing because these data centres are so new."
Cliff Jones, a retired banker and a leading voice in the resident campaign, countered accusations of NIMBYism by pointing to a lack of community consultation. "We have had to put up with so much noise during the construction phase, we couldn't go into our back gardens," he said.
Concerns have also been raised about the promised job creation. While construction employed up to 600 people, the operational phase of each data center is expected to require fewer than 20 employees. The UK currently has 568 data centers, with an additional nine proposed in Wales alone. The demand for electricity for data centers has surged, and their water consumption is substantial, primarily for cooling systems.
A spokesperson for Vantage Data Centers stated the company is "committed to being a good neighbour" and works with local authorities to manage construction impacts and environmental measures. Newport City Council affirmed that planning applications are reviewed to ensure acceptable impacts on biodiversity, light, noise, and traffic.