Plans for a Google data centre on the 52-hectare Arena Essex Raceway Local Wildlife Site in Thurrock have alarmed conservationists. The site supports Broad-leaved Cudweed—potentially the best UK location for this rare plant—along with 687 invertebrate species and 439 plant species. Developers say the centre would bring thousands of jobs and include a green infrastructure strategy, but locals fear high water and energy use and long-term ecological impacts.
Google Data Centre Plan in Thurrock Sparks Fears for Rare Plant and Bumblebee Habitat
Emily Buttress said Essex Wildlife Trust is not against development, but they want it to be sustainable [Essex Wildlife Trust]
Plans to build a Google data centre on the former Arena Essex Raceway Local Wildlife Site in Thurrock, Essex, have prompted strong objections from conservationists who say the development could destroy habitat for one of Britain’s rarest plants and numerous vulnerable insect species.
What’s at stake
The 52-hectare site, tucked between the Mar Dyke Valley and Lakeside, was designated a Local Wildlife Site (LoWS) in 2006 after detailed ecological surveys. Essex Wildlife Trust reports the area supports Broad-leaved Cudweed—possibly the best remaining location for this species in the UK—alongside 687 recorded invertebrate species and 439 plant species.
There are hundreds of unique species that live on the site [Essex Wildlife Trust]
Species of concern
Conservationists warn that the development could threaten several rare and scarce species recorded on the site, including the shrill carder bumblebee (found in only two areas of England), the dingy skipper butterfly, nightingales (a red-listed bird), the brown-banded carder bee and the five-banded weevil-wasp.
“Incredibly rare wildlife and habitats would be destroyed,” said Emily Buttress of Essex Wildlife Trust. “We are worried about the impacts for the local community due to water use, energy use, the warming effect on the land around them and not enough research into the long-term impacts of these buildings.”
Developers' case
Global Infrastructure UK Ltd, a private company used by Google to develop data centres in the UK, submitted planning documents to Thurrock Council last year via Mallory Land Ltd. A supporting statement from Mallory Land Ltd acknowledges the rapid rise in demand for data centre capacity—driven by growth in streaming, cloud services, artificial intelligence and other digital infrastructure—and says the scheme would create thousands of skilled jobs.
If plans are approved the data centre could bring scores of jobs to the area [Essex Wildlife Trust]
The developers say the proposals include an "integrated landscape and green infrastructure strategy" intended to respond to the site's ecological sensitivities and the socio-environmental needs of the surrounding area.
Broader concerns
Opponents highlight wider issues associated with new data centres, including substantial energy and water demands and possible local warming effects. Industry mapping lists 568 data centres across the UK, and environmental groups say any new developments should be sited and built with strict sustainability standards—especially in counties prone to drought.
The BBC has approached Google and Mallory Land Ltd for comment on the proposals.
Help us improve.
