Key facts
- A £15 billion proposal for Europe's largest data centre is planned for North Ockendon, East London.
- Local residents fear the data centre will destroy their tranquil village lifestyle.
- The proposed site is on green belt land.
- The data centre is intended to meet the surge in demand from AI.
Residents of the tranquil village of North Ockendon in Havering, East London, are concerned about the potential impact of a proposed £15 billion project to build Europe's largest data centre. The development, intended to address the increasing demand for data processing driven by artificial intelligence, is planned for green belt land. Locals fear that the construction and operation of such a large facility will irrevocably alter their quiet rural lifestyle, citing concerns about constant noise and environmental impact.