Put halt to ‘rampant’ building of data centres, says Polanski

By the Editorial Team · Friday, August 28, 2026

Green Party leader Zack Polanski has urged the government to stop building new data centres, warning that their rapid expansion threatens local water supplies, energy costs, and green spaces. This call comes amid government plans to increase data centre capacity by over a third, highlighting tensions between environmental concerns and the UK’s push to grow its digital infrastructure.

Green Party leader Zack Polanski has called on the government to halt the construction of new data centres, citing concerns over their environmental impact. His comments come shortly after new figures revealed that the number of data centres in the UK is expected to increase by more than a third, with nearly 200 projects planned or underway.

Currently, the UK hosts approximately 500 data centres, but research from Barbour ABI indicates that this number will rise by 183. Polanski and environmental campaigners, including Friends of the Earth, have urged the government to impose a moratorium on new developments. They warn that the rapid expansion of data centres threatens to strain local water supplies and drive up energy costs, particularly as these facilities require substantial power and water for cooling systems. Many of the proposed sites are located on greenfield land, raising concerns about the loss of farmland and natural habitats.

The government has designated new data centres as critical national infrastructure, putting them on a similar level to essential services such as water, energy, and emergency systems. This designation has led to expedited planning approvals and the government “calling in” decisions, removing some planning authority from local councils. An example cited is a data centre project near the M40 in Buckinghamshire that was fast-tracked for ministerial approval.

Polanski criticised this approach, stating that prioritising data centres over community needs risks diminishing local influence and social and environmental considerations. He argued that data should serve the public interest rather than override it, expressing concern that communities are sidelined and that climate targets could be jeopardised by unchecked growth in the sector.

Environmental groups echo these sentiments, calling on the government to pause developments until a clear strategy to mitigate environmental harm is established. They point to similar backlash in the United States, where the rapid growth of large-scale data centres has become a political issue, with candidates from both major parties advocating for tighter restrictions.

By contrast, representatives from the technology industry emphasize the importance of data centres to the UK’s economy and digital infrastructure. Matthew Evans, speaking on behalf of industry body techUK, described calls to remove their critical infrastructure status as misguided and lacking an understanding of their essential role.

A government spokesperson also defended the expansion of data centres, warning that halting new projects could drive investment and jobs overseas and increase reliance on foreign computing capacity. The government stressed that while support is conditional, developers must commit to using renewable energy, managing water responsibly, creating British jobs, supporting local supply chains, and contributing positively to the communities where these centres operate.

The debate highlights the challenge of balancing technological advancement and economic growth with environmental sustainability and community interests as the UK looks to position itself as a leader in artificial intelligence and digital services.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.