The UK government plans to triple the number of datacentres, which has sparked concerns about their impact on local resources, particularly water and electricity. In Slough, a hub for datacentres, the demand for cooling systems during heatwaves is intensifying, raising questions about sustainability amid climate challenges.
Research indicates that datacentres contribute to local temperature increases, with Slough hosting the densest cluster in western Europe. As the UK pushes for more datacentres, tensions between infrastructure needs and housing development are likely to escalate, especially in light of recent drought conditions.