Overlooking the garden of Amanda Young's family home is a data centre. "It used to be a nice, quiet area," said Amanda, who lives near to one of the large buildings in Newport. "But with more data centres coming in, we kind of don't know what they're going to bring with them." Data centres are buildings full of powerful computers used to run digital services, from online banking to movie streaming.
The number of data centres across the UK is on the rise as the growth in artificial intelligence (AI) increases the need for processing power. The UK government classifies data centres as critical national infrastructure and, according to recent Senedd research, "most jobs in the UK" are now reliant on them. But concerns have been raised about the large amounts of resources data centres require - including electricity, grid capacity and water - as well as the impact on the local communities where they are built.
Once fully operational, the Vantage Data Center Campus, external in Newport, south Wales, will include three centres over 46 acres. Amanda, whose home overlooks the site, said her biggest concern was "the noise, the visual impact and whether it will affect house prices" in her local area. "Whichever window you look out, you can see it," she said.
"When you're sitting in the lounge, you can actually see it there." Anthony, who lives near Amanda, said the construction of the data centre "takes away the peace from the neighbourhood" because of the noise and the extra traffic. A spokesperson for Vantage Data Center said they were "committed to being a good neighbour", adding they "work closely with local authorities" to "manage construction activity, including traffic, noise and lighting" as well as incorporating "measures designed to protect the local environment". Newport City Council said, when considering planning applications, it worked to "ensure that the impacts are considered acceptable in terms of biodiversity, light, noise and construction traffic".
In Cardiff, campaigners are concerned about proposals for a data centre campus in Llanrumney, on the site of the Cardiff East Park & Ride that takes passengers to the University Hospital of Wales. "The park-and-ride is so important," said Sue Elias, who uses the service and has been campaigning against the proposal with the residents' union Acorn. Elias said she understood the need to build data centres but said "there should be a pause" to consider the most responsible sites.
"They shouldn't just be put up and then worry about the consequences afterwards." Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (CVUHB) said the park and ride was an "essential transport link", adding that it was "committed to identifying a suitable and convenient alternative location". Data centres could pay hundreds of millions in deposits for power demands 'I can't drink the water' - life next to a US data centre The campaigners are also concerned about the potential impact on the environment. "The data centre planned would be an environmental nightmare both for the wildlife and the local residents," said Lizzie Bailey, who lives locally.
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