AI Campus Sparks Local Uprising in UK Reserve

A planned 1.5GW AI data campus and 1.8GW battery energy storage system (BESS) in North Devon's Unesco biosphere reserve has provoked a significant local backlash. The project, proposed by British company Xlinks, involves developing approximately 344 hectares (850 acres) of countryside.

Campaigners, employing tactics used in US protests, have raised alarms over environmental impacts, including water consumption and potential wastewater runoff. They also cite concerns about air pollution, noise, and safety risks associated with the BESS. The community is particularly angered by evidence of closed discussions between the developer and Torridge district council officials, which occurred before any public consultation.

Documents obtained via freedom of information requests suggest the council offered 'in-principle support' over a year before the proposal was made public. This secrecy has fueled frustration, with residents questioning how such a large-scale infrastructure project could be developed with limited transparency.

Nationally, a petition has garnered 30,000 signatures, urging the government to pause data centre and BESS plans outside designated AI growth zones. Proponents argue such facilities are crucial for balancing renewable energy supply, but critics fear a lack of regulation creates a 'wild west' scenario for their placement.

Xlinks states the project will bring significant economic investment and jobs, promising to design the campus sensitively, improve biodiversity, and minimize visibility. However, the company's previous energy project proposal from Morocco was rejected by the government. The environmental impact assessment is ongoing, with mitigation measures to be incorporated into the design.