Gwynedd data centre campaigners oppose ‘terrifying’ 101-acre plans

Data centres are buildings full of powerful computers used to run digital services, from online banking to movie streaming.

The UK government classifies them as critical national infrastructure and, according to recent Senedd research, “most jobs in the UK” are now reliant on them.

Planning documents show the proposed centre would include five main buildings for storing data with the highest of them standing at 30m (98ft).

But campaigners have raised concerns about water usage, the effect on the environment and how many jobs would go to local residents.

More than 100 people attended a public meeting on Saturday with many raising concerns.

Among those opposing the plans is Emyr Davies, whose house lies not far from where the boundary of the site would be, should it be approved.

“Visually it would have a massive effect, not just for us here in Caernarfon but also in Anglesey, and change the views of Snowdonia forevermore,” he said.

“It’s going to be horrific for the locals, not just visually but also the noise we’re worried about.”

Planning documents refer to a study showing the noise would affect people within a 2.5-mile (4km) radius.

Davies said he would even consider selling his house if plans were approved.

“I wouldn’t want to bring my three children up next to this industrial estate,” he said.

Campaigners have also raised concerns about water usage by the centre, with details showing on average it would use around 700,000 litres a day, although that figure could be nearer to 12 million litres a day at its maximum.

Developers said this figure was the “higher maximum-use scenario that is stated as a necessary requirement of the environmental assessment”.

It added no water would be taken from the Menai Strait and no warm cooling water would be discharged into it.

But campaigners have warned the sheer size of the development would destroy the local landscape, with submitted plans showing the centre would span beyond the existing old disused Ferodo site, the planned location of the new data centre.

“I’m not against every type of development at Ferodo,” said councillor Gwion Emyr.

“We need something there and it’s been empty for over 20 years.

“There are advantages and disadvantages, but jobs can’t come at the expense of the local community.”