Plans for a large artificial intelligence (AI) data centre in Great Torrington, North Devon, have sparked significant opposition from local residents concerned about the project's environmental impact. The proposed development by British company Xlinks involves constructing a 1.5-gigawatt (GW) AI data facility alongside a 1.8GW battery energy storage system, covering approximately 344 hectares within a protected UNESCO biosphere reserve.
The project entails five extensive buildings, ranging in height from 15 to 40 meters, with the largest structures each spanning about nine hectares. Such scale has raised alarms among community members and environmental campaigners who argue the development threatens a globally recognized natural area.
Opposition has coalesced through the Devon Datacentre and BESS (Battery Energy Storage System) action group, which has actively challenged the planning process. Using freedom of information requests, the group revealed that discussions between developers and Torridge District Council officials had been conducted confidentially since early 2025. Critics say this secrecy, accompanied by a lack of thorough public consultation and limited access to detailed site plans, has intensified distrust and frustration within the local community.
The campaign has attracted tens of thousands of supporters, highlighting increasing global unease about large data centres. Environmental concerns cited include potential increases in air pollution, as well as substantial consumption of water and energy resources associated with such facilities. Elizabeth Humphreys, a U.S.-based activist affiliated with Not in My Valley, emphasized the broader international debate regarding the environmental costs of expanding data infrastructure.
In response, Xlinks emphasized the project’s potential economic and environmental benefits, including a £13.8 billion (approximately $18.3 billion) investment and the creation of between 600 and 1,200 jobs. The company also highlighted its plans to enhance biodiversity in the area by at least 10%, design buildings to reduce visual impact, and implement environmental mitigation measures informed by forthcoming assessments.
Torridge District Council confirmed that a public consultation initially scheduled on the project had been postponed but assured that any formal planning application would be made publicly available on the council’s planning portal for review and comment. The council’s stance reflects an ongoing attempt to balance economic development with environmental stewardship.
The strong local resistance to the project underscores growing public sensitivity to the siting of large-scale technology infrastructure within protected natural landscapes, raising questions about how best to reconcile the demands of digital expansion with conservation objectives.