"A short drive from London, the town of Potters Bar is separated from the village of South Mimms by 85 acres of rolling farmland segmented by a scribble of hedgerows. In one of the fields, a lone oak serves as a rest stop along a public footpath. Lately, the tree has become a site of protest, too. A poster tied to its trunk reads: "NO TO DATA CENTRE.""
"In September 2024, a property developer applied for permission to build an industrial-scale data center-one of the largest in Europe-on the farmland. When locals caught wind, they started a Facebook group in hopes of blocking the project. More than 1,000 people signed up. The local government has so far dismissed the group's complaints. In January 2025, it granted planning permission. The following October, multinational datacenter operator Equinix acquired the land; it intends to break ground this year."
"They told me that they object to the data center on various grounds, but particularly to the loss of green space, which they see as an invaluable escape route from town to countryside and buffer against the highway and fuel stop visible on the horizon. "The beauty of walking in this area is coming through this space," says Naylor. "It's incredibly important for mental health and wellbeing.""
Potters Bar sits adjacent to 85 acres of hedgerow-divided farmland that forms part of London's green belt. Developers applied in September 2024 to build an industrial-scale data center on the fields, prompting more than 1,000 local residents to join a Facebook group opposing the project. Local government granted planning permission in January 2025 and Equinix acquired the land the following October, planning to begin construction this year. Residents cite loss of green space, diminished access from town to countryside, and harm to mental health and wellbeing as primary objections. National demand for AI-capable data centers threatens similar greenbelt sites across the UK.
Read at WIRED
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