Could the Truman Brewery Be Turned Into a Data Centre?

"The proposals include turning a derelict building on Grey Eagle Street into a data centre, and demolishing some of the existing Truman Brewery to make way for 44 flats (including 11 social housing units) shops, restaurants, a cinema and a market. A redevelopment proposal had already been rejected by local councillors last July but in October, Housing Secretary Steve Reed "called in" the development, meaning that he can make the final decision on the plans, which now include the new data centre element."

"Last autumn, the government declared data centres - facilities that house servers and networking equipment to help power digital data services like AI and streaming - to be critical national infrastructure. Opponents of the Truman Brewery proposals believe that a data centre was added into the plans to make them more attractive. Data centres require vast amounts of energy to run them, and some housing developments in west London were delayed at the end of last year as the National Grid reached capacity."

Brick Lane's Truman Brewery, once London's largest brewery, now contains food markets, vintage stalls, shops, cafes, galleries and bars. The Zeloof family, owners since 1995, proposes redeveloping the site. Plans would convert a derelict Grey Eagle Street building into a data centre and demolish parts of the brewery for 44 flats (including 11 social homes), plus shops, restaurants, a cinema and a market. A previous proposal was rejected by local councillors, but Housing Secretary Steve Reed "called in" the development, giving central government decision authority. The government designated data centres as critical infrastructure last autumn, while opponents warn about energy consumption, National Grid capacity constraints and housing impacts. Campaign group Save Brick Lane launched a petition to protect Brick Lane's cultural, social and economic ecosystem.

Read at London On The Inside