'Terrifying' 101-acre data centre plans would be 'heartbreaking', campaigners warn

A proposed data centre spanning 101 acres in Gwynedd would have a "heartbreaking" effect on the landscape and wildlife, campaigners have warned.

Developers want to build the new centre between Caernarfon and Y Felinheli, saying it could create more than 900 jobs during construction and a further 200 permanent roles.

But nearly 15,000 people signed a petition in opposition to the plans, with local campaigners saying the proposed development is too big and would lead to noise pollution and ruin the landscape.

A spokesperson for Canolfan Ddata Menai said it would "transform and revitalise the long-derelict" site and offer significant employment, with plans currently out for public consultation.

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."

Emma Lewandowicz also lives locally and said the proposed development would be "heartbreaking".

"It's really terrifying just to see the sheer size of it and the environmental impact, it's not just necessarily the noise but the effect on the community," she said.

"It's easy to ignore it when it's not on your doorstep but these things, they sort of crop up when you're not looking.

"I've got a little boy and I feel like it would tear our futures apart... I know they're promising jobs and that always sounds promising on the surface but beneath all that it's just really heartbreaking."

A spokesperson for Canolfan Ddata Menai said it understood locals' concerns about the scale of the development and wanted discussion to be based on accurate information.

"The proposed data centre would transform a long-derelict industrial site that has remained vacant for years, addressing contamination and safety issues through private investment," the spokesperson said.

"The design has been developed to minimise visual impact through building materials, landscaping and layout."

They said eight hectares of the site would be dedicated to biodiversity enhancement, while noise mitigation measures had been incorporated into the design.

The planning proposals are currently out for public consultation and will be available for locals to comment on until 17 October.