Science & Tech · Big Tech & Internet · 9 hrs ago
Local groups unite against Google's proposed Thurrock data center
A coalition is urging Google to drop its planned data center in Thurrock, east of London.
The group includes wildlife organizations, environmental nonprofit Foxglove and the Thurrock Hammers motorcycle club, which wants racing to return to the site.
They say the project could destroy habitat for rare wildlife, increase pollution and remove a former racing venue.
Google acquired the site in 2023 and applied for permission to build a data center campus the following year.
Nearly 55,000 people signed a petition against the plans, and of about 1,000 public responses to the planning authority, only one supported the project.
The dispute comes as the UK encourages data center construction to support the growing need for computing power, including for artificial intelligence.
The groups are pressing Google to build elsewhere, while the company says its plans prioritize biodiversity and reducing emissions.
A coalition of local and national groups is opposing Google’s proposed data center campus in Thurrock, east of London.
The groups cite potential harm to wildlife habitat, pollution and emissions, and the loss of a motorcycle racing venue.
Almost 55,000 people signed a petition asking Google to abandon the plan.
Google says its plans prioritize biodiversity and reducing emissions.
The dispute reflects wider resistance to large data center projects in the UK and Europe.
- Who
- Buglife, local wildlife groups, Foxglove and the Thurrock Hammers motorcycle club are opposing the proposal. Google is the developer.
- What
- Google proposes a large data center campus in Thurrock. Opponents delivered a petition asking the company to abandon the plan.
- When
- Google acquired the site in 2023 and applied for planning permission in May last year. The groups demonstrated outside its London headquarters the previous Wednesday.
- Where
- The proposed site is in Thurrock, 15 miles east of London. The demonstration was outside Google’s UK headquarters in Kings Cross, London.
- Why
- Opponents cite risks to wildlife, pollution and emissions, and the loss of the site’s motorcycle racing venue. Google says the plan prioritizes biodiversity and reducing emissions.
Thurrock development opponents
Wildlife
Thurrock development opponents
Buglife and local wildlife groups say development would destroy habitat for an endangered plant, a rare bumblebee and other invertebrates.
Google says its plans prioritize biodiversity.
Emissions
Thurrock development opponents
Foxglove says the project would produce too much pollution; opponents say emissions could reach 570,000 tonnes a year and cannot fit within the UK carbon budget.
Google says its plans prioritize reducing emissions.
Use of the site
Thurrock development opponents
The Thurrock Hammers wants to return to racing at the site, and opponents also object to losing the racing venue.
Google proposes developing a data center campus on the site.
Google acquired the Thurrock site through a subsidiary.
Google applied for permission to build a data center campus at the site.
Opponents demonstrated outside Google’s UK headquarters and presented a petition signed by almost 55,000 people.
- Petition
- Almost 55,000 signatories
- Site location
- Thurrock, 15 miles east of London
- Public planning responses
- 1,000 responses, with only one supporting the project
- Potential annual emissions
- Up to 570,000 tonnes
- Google site acquisition
- 2023
What people are saying
We share the concerns that Buglife and others have—and their expectation that this site should be developed sustainably.
People are angry about data centers turning up in their back gardens. They’re angry about data centers flouting local opinion—and about the impact it has on wildlife.
The unlikely alliance has got some attention.