Nancy Duckels, CPRE Sussex: It's time to press pause on data centres

The race to build AI capacity has seen a huge increase in applications for large data centres. 

In Sussex, a formal application for a 100 MW data centre in Hickstead is expected later this year. 

The plan is likely to compound existing water and electrical supply infrastructure problems in the local area. 

But data centres are treated by the UK government as critical national infrastructure.   

This means approval can be fast-tracked to Whitehall, bypassing local councils and communities. 

The AI gold rush risks sweeping community voices aside and turning the countryside into a dumping ground for water and energy-intensive developments.   

To make matters worse, there is no clear policy to govern the building of data centres. 

There are at least 100 in the pipeline, but no government body tracks them and information on their resource consumption is scarce. 

We’ve had data centres for as long as we’ve had information technology.    

But the current boom is unprecedented. 

Data centres, homes, energy, transport, food and nature, are all competing for the same finite supply of land, energy and water.    

The recent announcement of a data centre covenant is a step in the right direction.  

But, without regulation, we are risking a land crisis, on top of energy and water challenges. 

That is why the national CPRE charity is calling for a pause to unchecked data centre development before we sleepwalk into a land crisis like never before.  

CPRE has set out five things we want to see happen to decrease the risk of devastating impacts.  

First, a robust and strongly-enforced brownfield-first policy to help protect valuable landscapes and productive farming in the countryside. 

Second, dedicated planning rules for data centres. 

This would ensure the environmental and landscape impacts of data centres are properly assessed, and local communities are given a genuine voice in development. 

Third, innovative data centre design which minimises the impact on landscapes and resource use.  

Fourth, protection for climate targets so the flurry of data centre development doesn't cause emissions to spiral.   

Finally, we need meaningful public conversation on AI and data centres.  

There must be a clearer public consensus on the need for this technology, balancing the risks and benefits.  

Sign the national CPRE petition calling for a pause on data centres here: takeaction.cpre.org.uk/page/202216/petition/1  

So much of the conversation around data is now dominated by AI. 

But data can be collected in all sorts of ways – and it can be used for good.  

We recently launched our Autumn Appeal which aims to bring together data on planning threats from all over the country.  

We want to map community campaigns across Sussex, speak directly with people affected by development pressures, and bring their experiences together.  

We've set a fundraising target of £10,000. 

Every donation will help connect communities, strengthen local campaigns and give people across Sussex a stronger collective voice.  

You can donate to the campaign here: actionnetwork.org/fundraising/protect-the-sussex-countryside-once-its-gone-its-gone