In the rural landscape surrounding Great Torrington, a market town in north Devon, southwest England, local residents are mounting opposition to plans for one of Europe’s largest artificial intelligence data centers. The proposed development, announced publicly in June, would occupy approximately 850 acres of farmland and include a substantial battery energy storage facility, with parts of the site located just hundreds of yards from nearby homes.
The project, spearheaded by British company Xlinks, has prompted significant concern among the community, which numbers around 6,000 inhabitants. Many locals express fears about the environmental impact, including noise pollution, threats to the dark night skies, and increased pressure on local water and soil resources. Giles Atton, whose farmhouse lies near the planned site, described the area as a “magical place to live” that could undergo profound changes. Within days of the announcement, a local opposition group formed, supported by organizations such as the Campaign to Protect Rural England.
A key issue driving resistance is the anticipated scale of the development and its resource demands. AI data centers require vast amounts of electricity and generate significant heat, necessitating cooling systems often reliant on substantial water use. Critics including Daisy Snow, an organic farmer and product designer, worry about broader implications for food security and environmental sustainability.
Conversely, proponents emphasize the economic benefits the project could bring to an area struggling with limited employment opportunities. Great Torrington has seen major employers close over past decades, and average weekly earnings there fall below the national average. Xlinks has pledged an investment exceeding £12 billion ($16.3 billion) and forecasted the creation of between 600 and 1,200 jobs once the campus is operational. Brian Conrad, a former energy consultant from the town, advocates for a pragmatic approach, suggesting that such projects are necessary to bolster the UK’s digital infrastructure and reduce reliance on overseas data centers.
However, doubts remain regarding the quality and quantity of the jobs created, with some local residents skeptical that most employment will be low-skilled or limited to ancillary services. Others fear that approving this development could set a precedent for similar projects in other rural areas, altering the character of the countryside.
The council overseeing the area, Torridge District Council, confirmed that private discussions with Xlinks had taken place as early as April 2025, prior to the public unveiling. This has added to local frustration, with accusations that the company selected the region following the rejection of an earlier proposal involving renewable energy imports from Morocco.
Xlinks maintains that the data campus will be integral to meeting the UK’s growing need for AI computing capacity and economic growth. The company has committed to close consultation with residents and highlighted design features intended to mitigate environmental impacts, such as fluid recycling for cooling. Industry representatives also emphasize the significance of digital infrastructure to service-based economies like the UK’s.
Despite these assurances, opposition groups remain mobilized, seeking to convince local authorities to reject the proposal. Yet they acknowledge the final decision could rest with the UK government, which has the power to approve nationally significant infrastructure projects. The debate has created divisions within the community and raised questions about transparency during the planning process.
Landowners who agreed to sell property for the development have attracted scrutiny, with speculation about the financial terms involved and their wider effect on neighboring residents. For some, the prospect of substantial payments contrasts sharply with concerns over the long-term impact on rural life and the environment.
As the controversy continues, the project highlights the broader tensions between technological advancement, environmental stewardship, and rural livelihoods in an era of rapid digital transformation.