Greenwich Council opposes Charlton data centre for housing

Greenwich Council has stated its opposition to a proposed 100,000 square metre data centre development planned for Charlton Riverside in south-east London. The council's stance prioritises its own ambitions for the area, which include the construction of approximately 8,000 new homes, alongside improvements to public transport and the creation of 1,000 new jobs.

Conflict over land use

The proposed data centre site is currently industrial land. Council leaders have described the data centre proposal as being at odds with their regeneration plans for Charlton Riverside. Tom Creswell, Greenwich Council's cabinet member for planning and development, stated that the council's priorities are focused on serving local people and bringing opportunities to the borough.

Supporters of data centres argue they are critical infrastructure essential for modern technology, powering services such as online banking, medical record access, and video streaming. Mark Pestridge, managing director of Telehouse, highlighted the accelerating demand driven by London's position as a global technology and finance hub. He suggested that a faster planning process for such facilities would benefit London.

However, critics question the suitability of data centres in areas designated for new housing, raising concerns about their environmental impact, including energy and water consumption. Residents have expressed worries about potential noise from generators and the overall energy usage of such facilities. One resident told Politics London that they would prefer to see homes built on the site due to existing housing shortages.

Water usage and infrastructure

The government designates data centres as Critical National Infrastructure. A spokesperson for the government stated that claims of British data centres draining the country's water are false, noting they account for only 0.2% of non-household water usage in England. They added that many newer centres use advanced cooling systems with minimal fresh water requirements.

Data centre developers have also pointed to the significant amount of water lost daily through leaks in England and Wales, which totals approximately 3 billion litres. This figure is considerably higher than the annual potable water use of all data centres in the country, estimated at 1.88 billion litres. Water companies have indicated a need for authorisation to invest in infrastructure ahead of demand.

A spokesperson for the data centre project stated that regeneration in the area had seen limited progress and that their proposal would support the delivery of new homes by improving road infrastructure and creating green spaces. They suggested this would make nearby development more viable and transform the industrial estate into an area more welcoming to residents.

What happens next

The planning application for the data centre has not yet been submitted. Greenwich Council has made its opposition clear, and the debate is expected to continue as demand for digital infrastructure grows alongside London's housing needs.