New report: Responsible Data Centre Siting

Dr Aleksandra Peeroo and Dr Christina Wolf of the University of Hertfordshire have shared their new report with CPRE Hertfordshire. Their research examines the attitudes to the proposed hyperscale data centre in Potters Bar as a case study with implications for national policy regarding the siting of data centres.

Their report Responsible Data-Centre Siting: Public Value, Community Voice, and Social Legitimacy: Evidence from the Proposed Potters Bar Development, has just been published.

Potters Bar hyperscale data centre case study

The report draws on a representative survey of Potters Bar residents and 18 interviews, examining what accelerated and privately controlled data centre expansion means for –

• public value,
• distribution of benefits and burdens,
• local democracy, and
• social legitimacy.

The proposed hyperscale data centre in Potters Bar north of London provides the case study, but the resident and governance concerns as well as the policy recommendations have national scope.

80% feel that residents’ views receive little or no consideration

The policy report examines the attitudes to the proposed hyperscale data centre in Potters Bar through a representative survey of 204 adults and 18 interviews with residents, community representatives, experts, and other stakeholders. Opposition is substantial: 62% oppose the development, 74% express concerns, and 80% feel that residents’ views receive little or no consideration. The analysis shows that opposition cannot be dismissed as mere “not-in-my-backyard-ism”.

Residents feel distrust following perceived selective and misleading communication

Residents question whether the development’s purpose, scale, and location have been adequately justified; doubt the existence of local benefits whilst anticipating concentrated local burdens; perceive a lack of opportunities for meaningful influence; face substantial inequalities in terms of resources and expertise; and feel distrust following perceived selective and misleading communication.

Data centre siting decisions must ensure social legitimacy

In light of these findings, an assessment of individual data-centre proposals against existing planning and environmental requirements seems necessary but insufficient for responsible siting. Siting decisions must also ensure social legitimacy, based on demonstrated public value and possibilities for community influence.

Policy recommendations

The report therefore recommends strategic national planning; the clear demonstration of public value; earlier and more meaningful community participation; independently resourced public scrutiny; and enforceable commitments supported by transparent reporting. Together, these measures would support publicly legitimate data centre development.

Download the report

The full report is available for download from the University of Hertfordshire website or you can download the pdf here.

Download the report

Please also see our own CPRE Hertfordshire report on the environmental impact of data centres and consider whether Hertfordshire is the right location.

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