Plans for a large AI data campus in North Devon, located within a UNESCO biosphere reserve, have ignited significant local opposition. Residents are concerned about the environmental impact, including potential water usage and pollution, as well as the secrecy surrounding the planning process. Campaigners have mobilized tens of thousands of people, uncovering evidence of undisclosed discussions between developers and council officials.
The proposed facility, which would include a substantial battery energy storage system, has raised alarms about its scale and implications for the region's landscape and ecology. Local officials maintain that the planning process is standard, but community frustration continues to grow as calls for transparency and regulation intensify, with a petition gaining traction nationwide to pause similar projects outside designated AI growth zones.