UK government ‘does not know’ what data centres in the country are being used for

The UK government does not know what the hundreds of data centres in the country are being used for despite growing environmental concerns over their proliferation, according to reporting by The Guardian.

In response to a freedom of information request submitted by the paper requesting information on who was using the largest sites and what for, the now-dissolved Department for Science, Innovation and Technology said it does “not hold the requested information”.

The current UK government has pushed heavily to expand the number of data centres in the country, and there are currently 568 listed on datacentremap.com. The Guardian reported that hundreds more are awaiting planning permission, and 315 are currently queuing to connect to the national grid.

Qualifying data centres are currently able to apply for planning permission through the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) scheme, which allows them to receive approval from the relevant secretary of state rather than local councils. The Guardian reported that campaigners say this “insulates” data centres from local scrutiny.

Zack Polanski, leader of the Green party in England and Wales, told the paper that: “The government plans to steamroller over local opposition so private companies can build these facilities – yet they can’t even explain what the benefits are and who is benefiting.”

In a statement shared with National Technology News, a government spokesperson said that the NSIP route was not taken by the majority of data centre developers.

“Government sets the overall planning rules, but it does not routinely determine individual developments,” they added. “In the same way ministers do not sign off every housing estate or business park, most data centre projects are brought forward by private developers and must progress through the relevant local planning, environmental and grid connection processes independently.”

Last month, The Guardian published analysis that revealed that the combined emissions of two planned data centres in the UK would exceed the total carbon output of fossil fuel company ExxonMobil in the country. At the time, experts said that this demonstrates the “serious threat” data centres pose to the UK’s legally binding climate goals.

Backlash against data centres is growing globally, with a particularly strong movement in the US. A poll by Heatmap news, published 19 August, revealed that three quarters of Americans would now oppose a new data centre being built close to where they live, and several local councils are facing protracted legal battles to prevent their development.