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Government approves plans for controversial data centre in green belt
Cristina Lago Deputy Editor
The government has overturned a decision by a Hertfordshire local council which blocked the development of a huge data centre adjacent to the M25.
Three Rivers District Council rejected in January 2024 a planning application by high-tech infrastructure developer Greystoke Land to build an 84,000 sq m hyperscale campus on green belt land off Bedmond Road, in Abbots Langley.
The campus plans include two buildings up to 20m high, along with ancillary facilities, landscaping and a country park.
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The council rejected the application on various grounds, including the negative visual and landscape impact of the development and failure by Greystoke Land to demonstrate “very special circumstances” to justify development in the green belt.
The 84,000 sq m data centre campus is planned on green belt land off Bedmond Road, in Abbots Langley (Image: Greystoke Land)
However, the decision was recovered by the secretary of state and went through a six-day public inquiry in October 2024.
Today (12 May), housing minister Baroness Sharon Taylor of Stevenage, on behalf of secretary of state for housing, communities and local government Angela Rayner, published a 98-page letter granting planning permission subject to conditions for the project after agreeing with the planning inspectorate's recommendations.
“[...] the secretary of state has considered whether the identified ‘less than substantial’ harm to the significance of the designated heritage assets is outweighed by the public benefits of the proposal,” said Taylor in the letter addressed to Greystoke Land’s development consultant, Pegasus Group.
“Taking into the account the public benefits of the proposal as identified in this decision letter, overall, the secretary of state agrees with the inspector [in his report section] that the benefits of the appeal scheme are collectively sufficient to outbalance the identified less than substantial harm to the significance of the Tithe Barn and Mansion House Farmhouse.”
Tithe Barn and Mansion House Farmhouse are Grade II-listed buildings located in the area.
Three Rivers District Council can challenge the secretary of state's decision in the High Court within six weeks.
Earlier this year, the government launched an artificial intelligence (AI) plan that includes substantial investment in data centres to support AI infrastructure and growth. The plan aims to make the UK a global leader in AI and data centres, with investment from private tech companies projected at £14bn and the creation of over 13,000 jobs.
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