The British government recently decided that data centers are part of the critical national infrastructure, placing them on the same level as water systems or power grids. This means that these facilities will receive greater government support in preparing for and recovering from crises. Technology Secretary Peter Kyle announced the decision last week, and according to information from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), it is intended to help companies such as DC01UK, which is planning to invest nearly CZK 118 billion in Europe's largest data center in Hertfordshire.
However, this decision also has another consequence: data centers are no longer subject to the same planning restrictions as before. This makes it easier to overcome local objections to their construction. For example, in areas around London, where many such facilities are concentrated, residents often oppose new projects. According to Ishmael Burdeau, a civil servant at DWP Digital who spoke at the Think Data for Government conference, people in counties such as Hampshire or Buckinghamshire see few benefits in data centers—they employ only a handful of people, such as security guards or engineers, and tend to cause more problems.
Local opposition
In many cases, residents are concerned about environmental impacts, such as high energy and water consumption, which can strain local utilities and increase energy bills. For example, in the US, specifically in Virginia, which has more data centers than anywhere else in the world, residents of one county opposed a new Amazon facility on agricultural land. Although they lost, local authorities later scaled back their plans based on the lessons learned. Similar objections have also emerged in Britain—projects such as the West London Technology Park near Iver in Buckinghamshire and another in Abbots Langley in Hertfordshire were rejected by local authorities last year.
Energy consumption in data centers is growing rapidly, especially with the rise of artificial intelligence, putting greater pressure on power grids. According to publicly available online information, projects worth more than $64 billion (over CZK 1.5 trillion) have been blocked or delayed in the US due to opposition from residents concerned about the loss of green spaces and noise. In Britain, the new status of data centers now allows such objections to be disregarded in the interests of national security.
Benefits for businesses and the economy
Equinix UK Managing Director Bruce Owen said that the internet and digital infrastructure have become as important as water or electricity. According to him, the new status will make access to the power grid and planning processes easier. Before the July election, the Labour government pledged to ease restrictions on data center investment, which is expected to bring more money into the economy. For example, the aforementioned DC01UK project near the M25 motorway has the support of local authorities, even though nearby residents may not be enthusiastic about having a massive facility in their neighborhood.
Data centers are becoming crucial to the digital world, but their construction is creating conflicts between national needs and local interests. The British government is now prioritizing rapid development to ensure that the country remains attractive to investors.
Source: theregister.com
