Even George Osborne Might Be a Nimby if an AI Datacentre Was Built Next to His Home
The Guardian
ENRICHED
Details
- Date Published
- 29 Sept 2026
- Priority Score
- 1
- Australian
- No
- Created
- 29 Sept 2026, 08:00 pm
Description
Letters: The quality of life for people living next to one would be destroyed, writes Moira Brewer; plus a letter from Mark Davis
Summary
This collection of letters addresses the local resistance to large-scale infrastructure required for expanding frontier AI capabilities. Residents express concerns over the environmental footprint, energy consumption, and noise pollution associated with an 850-acre datacentre proposal in Devon. While the text focuses on local planning and 'NIMBYism', it highlights the significant physical resource demands and societal friction points resulting from the rapid scaling of AI hardware. The discourse illustrates the growing tension between national industrial AI strategies and local environmental governance.
Body
A protest in Bideford about the proposed 850-acre AI datacentre and battery energy storage system, 21 September 2026. Photograph: Finnbarr Webster/GettyView image in fullscreenA protest in Bideford about the proposed 850-acre AI datacentre and battery energy storage system, 21 September 2026. Photograph: Finnbarr Webster/GettyLettersEven George Osborne might be a nimby if an AI datacentre was built next to his homeThe quality of life for people living next to one would be destroyed, writes Moira Brewer; plus a letter from Mark DavisSo, George Osborne thinks people who don’t want an AI datacentre on their doorstep are nimbys (OpenAI’s George Osborne says datacentre nimbys holding back Britain, 22 September). He ought to come and visit our small town in Devon, where there are plans to build one of the largest datacentres in Europe, along with a battery energy storage system, on 850 acres of farmland.The size of this proposed development is quite out of proportion to its location – larger than the town itself – and accessed by narrow lanes. It would be a huge blot on a beautiful rural landscape that is enjoyed by holidaymakers who are vital to the local economy.It would destroy local residents’ quality of life, with its noise, lights and greed for energy and water, and we will not accept the imposition of this monstrosity on our doorstep without a fight (‘People are standing up and fighting back’: the north Devon revolt against a vast AI datacentre, 27 September).Moira BrewerGreat Torrington, Devon There’s a lot of open space with just a few sheep and the odd planted turnip around Bruton in Somerset. Has George Osborne got a datacentre in his back yard yet?Mark DavisFrome, SomersetExplore more on these topicsDatacentres - UKAI (artificial intelligence)EnglandDevonGeorge OsborneComputingFarminglettersShareReuse this content