It is a historic settlement that dates back to the Bronze Age, with the surrounding landscape continuing to be remarkably tranquil despite its location on the edge of
London
.
However, the peaceful countryside way of life currently experienced by people living in North Ockendon might disappear completely due to £15 billion plans for Europe's largest data center.
Local residents worry about continuous noise contamination — not only during building phases but also throughout operations, as people living near similar developments in the United States have experienced an unending 24-hour drone.
The "East Havering Data Centre" is one of approximately 175 upcoming locations planned throughout Britain as the government encourages greater funding in the sector.
AI
revolution.
The United Kingdom currently operates approximately 500 data centers, with London experiencing the greatest density due to increased needs related to artificial intelligence and cloud services.
However, activists from North Ockendon, located at the far east end of Greater London, worry that proposals for a 600MW facility on protected countryside might require them to relocate.
A significant concern involves continuous noise generated by gas turbines, which are employed in certain projects in the United States to supply short-term electricity until facilities become connected to the regional power network.
Although the East Havering location will be supplied with power from a nearby substation in Warley, activists worry that loud noises could disrupt the area's tranquility.
Emma Edmonds, aged 68, has resided in North Ockendon for half a century and strongly opposes the proposed data center. Upon learning about the plans two years back, she created a sign reading "No to Data Centre," which she keeps visible at her residence with pride.
She said to the Daily Mail, "A video was sent to me showing a data center half a mile away—approximately where I live, perhaps just slightly closer. The sound was terrible. I thought, 'Goodness, I won’t be able to sleep, I won’t be able to concentrate. Just listen to how silent it is.'"
A woman who is 22 years old and also a grandparent to three children stated that she believes artificial intelligence, which relies on massive data centers, is "hazardous."
She said: "[Children] don't grasp it - they're absorbing all this garbage and falsehoods, honestly, and it's harmful for them. You reside in the actual world here, not the AI realm, and you never should live in the AI world, as it poses risks."
In my view, this is risky. I’m not very technically inclined, but trust me, I have more knowledge about data centers than you can imagine. I’ve had to study extensively.
A father of two, Daniel Stock, aged 52, established the Top Meadow Golf Course alongside his father at the location of their previous chicken farming operation following a decline in their business during the 1980s.
He is now encircled by developments—such as a recently constructed solar panel installation to the east, which affects the scenic vistas on all sides.
A long-time resident of North Ockendon, whose clubhouse café has outdoor seating overlooking the proposed development, stated: "The construction, the noise, the pollution—everything you expect to come with such a large project."
I have spent all my life here — I don’t wish to see it, nor do my clients. It’s peaceful, quiet, with beautiful rural scenery. For weddings, dining guests, and golfers — none of them would like to visit and witness what could become a huge building project.
You might have expected this to be a secure location where such an event wouldn’t occur, considering it’s part of the Metropolitan Green Belt, yet they’re attempting to approve it under exceptional conditions.
He said: "[You can hear] birds, foxes, and anything else – it's nature, it's tranquil. That will disappear, it will be flooded with sound. You've probably heard about the situation in America."
The electric load on it, the water usage - it isn't the suitable location either. You likely can't find a more inappropriate spot for it. There's no development nearby, let alone manufacturing activity.
He mentioned that he believed the rural areas were "being attacked," adding, "Massive solar farms. We also have the Lower Thames Crossing project, which is set to proceed."
We're facing challenges from every direction. At the location of the solar farm, it has become a field of glass. Although they aren’t as intrusive as wind turbines, being shorter, they still appear like an ocean of glass.
Danny Leach, aged 58, has resided on a farm located just adjacent to the proposed location of the new data center for two decades.
He mentioned that 60 bird species—such as peregrine falcons and barn owls—are found on or near the location where the new data center is set to be built.
Mr. Leach said to the Mail, "If you visit during the night, there's hardly any noise. They have conducted studies—last summer one evening, we went out and saw two men in a vehicle with a microphone sticking out the window performing a sound check at the end of the street and then driving past here for ten minutes."
A soundproofing firm came here for a week and also worked at the golf course. The developers say the ambient noise level is currently between 45 and 60 decibels, but this isn't true — it’s actually 22 to 24 decibels. They measured it from the road.
He stated: "We have peregrine falcons, I'm keeping a pair of barn owls in my front yard that appeared and built a nest this year, along with hobbies, red kites, buzzards, and kingfishers."
Even if there were a group of newts out here, the issue is that the government no longer considers them significant enough to halt construction—normal developments such as houses usually prompt some resistance during planning, but this case is much more prominent.
The oak trees won't ever grow during our time, those trees. They're over 100 years old, and they plan to chop them down. All these hedges will disappear, yet they believe people will travel from the city to stroll about.
This will feature 21-meter-high security barriers surrounding the area, resembling a prison. Is such a large size really necessary?
Mr. Leach remarked, "By that willow tree, there's a pond inhabited by European bullfrogs, which make noise. Their calls can be heard from my garden—a quarter of a mile away—and you really can."
And after that, they'll end up with this abomination.
Mr. Leach stated, "The residents of the town—specifically those in Cranham, Upminster, and London—are indifferent to it since it has no impact on their lives. This is why they chose such an isolated spot."
He stated, "I am not against data; I have data in my phone from my photographs, and you have it on your drone — everyone has it, but what's the necessity for having the largest one in Europe?"
A pair of individuals, preferring to stay unidentified, mentioned they relocated to North Ockendon seeking a "peaceful lifestyle" during their retirement years.
The individual stated, "When this developer first held an open forum at the church and was questioned about it, they claimed that the sound from the data center would never exceed the current level, and if it became any louder, they wouldn’t proceed and would simply withdraw, which is completely false."
He said: "We're sitting here, and if the wind is coming from west to east, there's some sound from the M25, but apart from that, the sounds we hear are those of a woodpecker, birds, and when the farmer is using his tractor in the neighboring field. But that’s a pleasant kind of noise—something you’d naturally anticipate."
This area is used for farming and has open spaces—it’s not an industrial zone or a developed region, as the local authority has attempted to suggest.
Digital Reef Developer intends for the project to utilize 540 acres of current agricultural land, with approximately 84 acres dedicated to data center structures and a 280-acre environmental reserve.
The company anticipates that the project will require four years for completion — an extended timeline compared to typical data center developments, which usually last from 19 to 30 months.
A 30-day review of the 2,700-page plan concluded on April 12, after which Havering Council advanced the project using a Local Development Order (LDO).
This strategic tool provides early approval for particular projects – accelerating the procedure by eliminating the requirement for a regular application.
The local government—acquired by Reform during last month's municipal elections—is currently supporting the initiative, with expectations that it could generate thousands of new employment opportunities.
Authorities have highlighted the new environmental park as a significant advantage, as it will soon be available for visitors and can be reached via newly constructed walking trails and bike paths.
The facility will feature 400,000 square meters (4.3 million square feet) of data center area, along with battery storage systems, agriculture zones, education centers, and renewable energy infrastructure.
The council anticipates that the project will result in 9,000 new employment opportunities throughout the area via building work, ongoing management, and related industries—along with an annual revenue of £13.5 million for the local government.
Last January, Sir Keir Starmer announced initiatives aimed at increasing the application of artificial intelligence to stimulate economic development – stating that the United Kingdom aims to become an AI "superpower."
The leader of the government acknowledged there might be "initial challenges" during the procedure but emphasized that reforms would aid in modernizing outdated public services and revitalizing the UK's economic situation.
The administration has also mentioned several AI "growth areas" across the UK aimed at accelerating approval processes for data centers and enhancing connectivity to the power network.
Government officials are prioritizing the development of additional data centers in the UK, such as by labeling them as "essential national infrastructure" in September 2024.
However, the government must also tackle the energy and water demands of the AI sector, as this technology requires substantial quantities of both to function.
Water cooling is employed to prevent computers from overheating—and in the case of East Havering, the developer proposes that surplus heat generated by the center could be utilized to warm nearby homes and a 12-acre indoor avocado farm.
The United Kingdom's National Energy Systems Operator (Neso), responsible for overseeing the country's power network, now receives 173 applications for grid connections from upcoming data center projects.
However, there are worries within UK communities after reports from residents in Sterling, Virginia — an area known as "Data Centre Alley" due to its concentration of facilities close to Washington DC — indicate they are experiencing ongoing noise from neighboring data centers, causing significant disruption to their daily lives.
A major source of noise disturbance comes from onsite generators or gas turbines — people residing near potential projects across Britain worry they may encounter comparable challenges, as approximately 100 of the intended locations are considering utilizing onsite natural gas energy.
A spokesperson from the government stated to the Mail: "The entire administration is committed to establishing the appropriate environment for investing in the UK's artificial intelligence and data center facilities, which will provide employment and prospects that diligent individuals merit."
Data centers are subject to the same zoning regulations regarding noise as any other project, with guidelines established to reduce negative effects on local residents.
The United Kingdom's National Planning Policy Framework outlines that planning strategies and choices must "support and improve the natural and community surroundings" by ensuring "new and current developments do not lead to, face significant danger from, or be negatively impacted by, excessive amounts of ground, atmospheric, aquatic, or sound contamination or terrain instability."
A representative from NESO stated to the Mail: "NESO manages today’s power grid and develops future energy systems."
We are collaborating with the government and Ofgem to make sure that new demands, such as data centers, are integrated via well-defined, strategic planning that promotes a dependable, eco-friendly, and cost-effective energy network.
The Daily Mail reached out to Havering Council and Digital Reef for their response.
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