How to Oppose a Data Centre: Community Action Toolkit

1. Find out what's actually proposed

Get the full planning application from the council website (search by reference number). Don't rely on the developer's leaflets — read the actual documents, especially:

• The planning statement (what they want and why)
• The environmental statement (water, energy, noise, ecology)
• The design and access statement (what it will look like)
• Any transport assessment (construction traffic)

2. Understand the timeline

Planning applications have a consultation window — usually 21–28 days for a major application. Objections received after the deadline can still be considered, but earlier is better. Mark the dates now.

3. Write a proper objection

Councils must consider "material planning considerations" — things like:

• Traffic and highway safety
• Noise and disturbance
• Visual impact on the area
• Environmental impact (water, energy, ecology)
• Loss of light or privacy
• Conflict with the local plan (the council's own policies)

Stick to these. "It lowers house prices" or "I don't like it" are not material considerations and carry little weight. Reference the council's local plan policies by number — it makes your objection far stronger.

4. Ask for conditions, not just refusal

Even if approval looks likely, conditions can make a huge difference. Demand:

• Independent acoustic assessment and night-time noise limits
• Water efficiency requirements (dry cooling or water reuse)
• Construction management plan with HGV routing and hours
• Grid connection information — is the local network at capacity?
• Decommissioning obligations if the site is later abandoned

5. Organise

• Set up a WhatsApp group or Facebook page for your street or village.
• Hold a public meeting — invite the councillors, not just each other.
• Ask the parish/town council to submit a formal objection.
• Talk to your county/district councillors — they vote on the application.
• Get in touch with local press and radio — coverage changes decisions.

6. Know your rights if it's approved

If the application is approved against your objections, you still have options:

• Judicial review — only for procedural errors or unlawful decisions, with strict time limits (usually 6 weeks) and real costs risk. Get legal advice first.
• Enforcement — if the developer breaches conditions, report it to the council's planning enforcement team and keep evidence.
• Elections — planning decisions are made by elected members. Voting counts.

7. Look after yourself

Fighting a planning application is exhausting and can take a year or more. Rotate roles, share the load, and celebrate small wins. Communities that sustain the effort are the ones that change outcomes.

Not legal advice — a community resource. Part of the Brightfull Tech network. Contact: hello@brightfull.tech