UK towns join US protests over AI data centre construction

Local activists in Potters Bar, on the northern fringe of London, are contesting Equinix’s proposal to build an 85-acre data centre, warning that the development could generate constant noise, increase traffic, consume scarce electricity and erase greenbelt space. The Potters Bar Special Interest Group Residents’ Association, founded by Ros Naylor, has gathered more than 4,600 petition signatures and staged public demonstrations over the past year.

This UK resistance mirrors a surge of US opposition, where a recent Gallup poll indicates 70% of Americans now reject data centres near their homes, and over 140 protests have taken place in 42 states, causing delays to projects valued at $130 billion in Q1 2026. The controversy extends to other British towns, Edinburgh, rural Brazil and Tennessee, and raises questions about whether limited electricity capacity should prioritize housing or intensive digital facilities.

London remains Europe’s largest data centre market, with major investments from Microsoft, Google and others, while the Greater London Authority is drafting a policy to steer future sites toward areas with adequate power and sustainability measures. Environmental groups also warn that data centres’ electricity and water consumption could strain already stressed resources.