The short version
- Green Party leader Zack Polanski has called for an immediate freeze on approvals for new data centres in England, citing excessive water and energy consumption during a widespread drought.
- The government argues that halting construction would result in lost jobs and increased reliance on foreign servers for sensitive health and defense information.
- Current regulations do not require data centre operators to report their water usage, leading to significant uncertainty regarding the total environmental impact of the sector.
A political dispute has emerged over the rapid expansion of digital infrastructure in England, with the Green Party calling for an immediate suspension of approvals for new data centres. Zack Polanski, the party leader, visited a proposed facility site in East London to announce his demand for stricter environmental regulations and greater community control over local development. He argued that the current trajectory is unsustainable given the severe water shortages affecting much of the country.
Polanski characterized the facilities as major consumers of both energy and water, urging the government to implement a moratorium on large-scale projects while allowing only small, locally beneficial units. He expressed frustration that these industrial sites are classified as critical infrastructure, a status granted in 2024 that provides them with additional government support during emergencies such as cyber-attacks or extreme weather events. To many citizens, he noted, critical infrastructure typically refers to hospitals and utilities rather than artificial intelligence systems.
The classification of data centres as critical has raised concerns among environmental advocates who fear these facilities could receive priority access to water supplies over residential households during shortages. However, the government has clarified that such priority is not automatic. Despite this assurance, the Greens argue that the current framework allows for disproportionate resource allocation without sufficient transparency or public input.
Official statistics on the sector's resource consumption remain scarce because UK data centres are not currently required to report their water usage. This lack of mandatory disclosure makes it difficult to assess the full scale of the environmental impact. Last year, reports indicated there were approximately 477 such facilities in the UK, with many more planned for construction. A significant number of these are concentrated around London and southern England, regions that are currently experiencing official drought conditions.
Independent estimates suggest the scale of consumption is substantial. The Water Research Centre consultancy estimated in February that data centres in England use roughly 1.9 billion litres of potable water annually, representing about 0.2% of the non-household market. The consultancy noted a clear upward trend in usage. Meanwhile, research cited by the Greens from the environmental charity Global Action Plan suggested that large individual facilities could consume up to 1.5 million litres per day.
In response to the call for a ban, government officials strongly opposed the proposal, warning that it would have severe economic and security consequences. A spokesperson stated that pausing construction would lead to a loss of investment and force the UK to depend on overseas computing power for processing sensitive health and defense data. The government described such an outcome as a disaster for both employment and national security.
While rejecting the moratorium, the government emphasized that it does not offer a blank check to technology companies. Officials stated that developers must demonstrate plans for using clean power, managing water responsibly, creating local jobs, and investing in community infrastructure. The government also pointed out that a significant portion of water supply—roughly one-fifth—is lost through leaks, suggesting that infrastructure repair is also a necessary component of conservation efforts.
Further scrutiny has been directed at the government's own strategic planning. It was revealed that ministers have not conducted an environmental assessment for their strategy on delivering AI growth zones. A government official explained that this document is viewed as a statement of intent rather than a formal policy requiring immediate implementation steps. The Greens have called for annual reporting on water and electricity consumption by data centre owners and advocated for building facilities on brownfield sites near renewable energy sources to minimize environmental harm.
The debate highlights the tension between technological advancement and environmental sustainability in an era of climate uncertainty. As demand for computing power grows, particularly for artificial intelligence applications, the pressure on local resources intensifies. With hundreds of existing centres and many more planned, the question of how to balance economic growth with ecological responsibility remains unresolved. The coming months will likely see continued friction between political parties, industry stakeholders, and communities affected by these developments.
Uncertainty persists regarding the long-term viability of current practices without stricter oversight. While the government insists on maintaining momentum for investment and job creation, critics argue that the lack of transparent data prevents informed decision-making. The absence of official figures on total water consumption leaves a gap in understanding the true cost of digital expansion. As drought conditions persist in southern England, the debate over data centre regulation is expected to remain a prominent issue in political discourse.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- BBC News↗Greens call for temporary ban on new data centres
