Residents of North Ockenden say it’s a race against the clock to review over 3,000 pages of planning proposals for Europe’s largest data centre in just 30 days.
Digital Reef, a digital infrastructure developer, wants to construct what would be Europe’s largest data centre on an area of East London’s ‘green belt’.
Havering council has now published all of the details of the project for residents to scrutinise, but residents argue the one month window to raise concerns is not sufficient.
London’s greenest area under threat
Havering is made up of 54% green spaces, more than any other London borough. These sites are heavily protected – The National Planning Policy Framework published by the government in 2012 states it can only be developed under “very exceptional circumstances”.
It states this land should be protected in order “to check the unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas”.
The proposed site just outside the M25 spans roughly the size of 214 football fields.
It will consume as much energy as just under two million homes, and takes up as much water as the population of Manchester.
However, this data centre is roughly four times the size of the UK’s current largest data centre, located in Slough. It would also consume over six times as much power.
Proposals include a built-in 113-hectare Ecology Park alongside buildings the size of superstores. đ¸ Digital Reef
Residents resist data centre planning proposal
The work was first proposed in 2022, but this is the first time residents will be able to review the plans in detail for the site.
Locals have long shared their concerns around the development, forming the North Ockendon Residents Group to oppose the construction. Their petition now has over 1,200 signatures – more than the entire population of the village.
Danny Leach, whose home and business borders the site, said: “Iâm not against the future, as the world needs to progress. But do we need such a mega data centre… in one small condensed location?”
It’s going to consume so much water [and] electricity. It’s going to give off 10-20 years of disruption and construction noise. Once itâs operational [it will give off] pollution, noise [and] heat.
North Ockenden residents gathered to object to data centre plans. đ¸ North Ockenden Residents Group/Facebook
Data centre will bring ‘millions of pounds to the area’
Digital Reef have acknowledged that there is “lingering scepticism”, but say the site will “provide local employment opportunities and skills training, create a new public green space, and deliver digital infrastructure to support both the local community and the wider UK economy.”
Havering Council leader Roy Morgon said going ahead with the plans was a “tough decision,” but damage to London’s green belt was outweighed by “local growth, new businesses, future job opportunities for Havering children, as well as food security, energy security and data sovereignty for our country.”
Digital Reef has promised to invest ÂŁ5.3 billion in the development, and is paying a ÂŁ9 million development premium to Havering Council, as well as an estimated ÂŁ13.5 million in annual income for the local authority.
Havering Council recently faced significant financial crises, requiring a ÂŁ54 million loan in from the government 2024 to prevent it filing for bankruptcy.
The race to review planning proposal
Residents now have one month to read, research and raise concerns or complaints about the plans, before the Local Planning Authority vote on whether development goes ahead.
The proposal comprises 83 separate documents with over 3,000 pages, meaning residents would have to read over 100 pages a day for the entire month in order to fully review the application.
Mr Leach told City News that residents, particularly those who were elderly, would struggle to comprehend the technical language in the council’s proposal.
One local posted on social media that they felt they were being “steamrollered” by the local authority. Another wrote in a letter to local MP for Upminster and Hornchurch Julia Lopez: “this… feels like pre-determination.”
âI now call on the council to allow a full consultation for the maximum period, to allow local people across the borough to express their opinions and call on them to look at alternative locations so this area retains its Green Belt land.”
North Ockendon Residents Group, supported by a charitable law firm, have contacted the council to extend the consultation period to the maximum period of twelve weeks.
Andrew Blake-Herbert, Chief Executive of Havering Council, previously told residents: “the Council has always done and in relation to the data centre continues to recommend carrying out the statutory consultation period, but not the extended consultation period of three months”.
The council has been contacted for comment.
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HeadlineLondoners hit back at plans for Europe’s biggest data centre
Short HeadlineLondoners hit back at 'colossal abomination' data centre
StandfirstHavering locals say 30 days to read 3,000 pages of planning documents is 'unreasonable and unfair'.
Residents of North Ockenden say it’s a race against the clock to review over 3,000 pages of planning proposals for Europe’s largest data centre in just 30 days.
Digital Reef, a digital infrastructure developer, wants to construct what would be Europe’s largest data centre on an area of East London’s ‘green belt’.
Havering council has now published all of the details of the project for residents to scrutinise, but residents argue the one month window to raise concerns is not sufficient.
London’s greenest area under threat
Havering is made up of 54% green spaces, more than any other London borough. These sites are heavily protected – The National Planning Policy Framework published by the government in 2012 states it can only be developed under “very exceptional circumstances”.
It states this land should be protected in order “to check the unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas”.
The proposed site just outside the M25 spans roughly the size of 214 football fields.
It will consume as much energy as just under two million homes, and takes up as much water as the population of Manchester.
However, this data centre is roughly four times the size of the UK’s current largest data centre, located in Slough. It would also consume over six times as much power.
Proposals include a built-in 113-hectare Ecology Park alongside buildings the size of superstores. đ¸ Digital Reef
Residents resist data centre planning proposal
The work was first proposed in 2022, but this is the first time residents will be able to review the plans in detail for the site.
Locals have long shared their concerns around the development, forming the North Ockendon Residents Group to oppose the construction. Their petition now has over 1,200 signatures – more than the entire population of the village.
Danny Leach, whose home and business borders the site, said: “Iâm not against the future, as the world needs to progress. But do we need such a mega data centre… in one small condensed location?”
It’s going to consume so much water [and] electricity. It’s going to give off 10-20 years of disruption and construction noise. Once itâs operational [it will give off] pollution, noise [and] heat.
North Ockenden residents gathered to object to data centre plans. đ¸ North Ockenden Residents Group/Facebook
Data centre will bring ‘millions of pounds to the area’
Digital Reef have acknowledged that there is “lingering scepticism”, but say the site will “provide local employment opportunities and skills training, create a new public green space, and deliver digital infrastructure to support both the local community and the wider UK economy.”
Havering Council leader Roy Morgon said going ahead with the plans was a “tough decision,” but damage to London’s green belt was outweighed by “local growth, new businesses, future job opportunities for Havering children, as well as food security, energy security and data sovereignty for our country.”
Digital Reef has promised to invest ÂŁ5.3 billion in the development, and is paying a ÂŁ9 million development premium to Havering Council, as well as an estimated ÂŁ13.5 million in annual income for the local authority.
Havering Council recently faced significant financial crises, requiring a ÂŁ54 million loan in from the government 2024 to prevent it filing for bankruptcy.
The race to review planning proposal
Residents now have one month to read, research and raise concerns or complaints about the plans, before the Local Planning Authority vote on whether development goes ahead.
The proposal comprises 83 separate documents with over 3,000 pages, meaning residents would have to read over 100 pages a day for the entire month in order to fully review the application.
Mr Leach told City News that residents, particularly those who were elderly, would struggle to comprehend the technical language in the council’s proposal.
One local posted on social media that they felt they were being “steamrollered” by the local authority. Another wrote in a letter to local MP for Upminster and Hornchurch Julia Lopez: “this… feels like pre-determination.”
âI now call on the council to allow a full consultation for the maximum period, to allow local people across the borough to express their opinions and call on them to look at alternative locations so this area retains its Green Belt land.”
North Ockendon Residents Group, supported by a charitable law firm, have contacted the council to extend the consultation period to the maximum period of twelve weeks.
Andrew Blake-Herbert, Chief Executive of Havering Council, previously told residents: “the Council has always done and in relation to the data centre continues to recommend carrying out the statutory consultation period, but not the extended consultation period of three months”.
The UK Health Security Agency has confirmed cases of the water-borne disease in parts of North-West and South-West London but are yet to identify a source.
