Decision delayed on data centre near travellers site

A decision on plans to build a £2.5bn data centre next to a travellers site has been delayed.

A travellers group said the project in Watford could cause indirect discrimination through "loss of amenity, sleep disturbance and environmental stress".

The developer, Ark Data Centres, said it had engaged with the local community throughout the planning process and would continue to do so throughout the construction process.

But Hertsmere councillors voted on Thursday to defer a decision because they were worried about the visual impact, demands on the water supply and a lack of financial contributions.

The proposed centre would consist of four data buildings, each about 36m (about 120ft) high.

There would also be two substations and a visitor reception centre across about 18 acres of land on Tyler's Way.

The Mercure hotel on the site, which closed in 2021, would be demolished.

The travellers group, GATE Herts, told Hertsmere Borough Council the centre would be just 10m away from a long-established Gypsy and travellers site.

It claimed this could result in "indirect discrimination through loss of amenity, sleep disturbance and environmental stress".

The group said travellers were "recognised ethnic groups protected under the Equality Act".

At Thursday's meeting, Janet Engels from the Letchmore Heath Village Trust said: "The 30-pitch Gypsy and traveller site is metres away.

"Your officers acknowledge the dominating effect of the buildings on the homes there, together with a medium-magnitude noise impact from daily generator testing."

More than 1,000 people have registered objections to the proposal, many relating to the visual impact of the centre.

Councillors at Thursday's meeting were also concerned about whether the water supply would be able to cope with the demands of the data centre, as Affinity Water had not confirmed that it would.

Rob Silvester, from Ark Data Centres, told councillors: "There will be no adverse effects on local water supplies.

"The annual waterage of our scheme is estimated to be 12 times less than the former hotel."

But some councillors remained unconvinced about the figures, and they were also concerned about the financial contributions Ark had agreed to make to the local community, which one member described as "derisory".

The planning committee voted to defer their decision pending further negotiations between Ark and the council, and clarification about the water supply.

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