North Devon's uprising against Europe's largest AI datacentre
Local protests erupt over 344-hectare AI campus in UNESCO biosphere reserve
1Unprecedented scale proposal
Xlinks plans to build one of Europe's largest AI datacentres in North Devon's UNESCO biosphere reserve, covering 344 hectares with five buildings up to 130 feet tall. The campus would include a 1.5GW AI facility and 1.8GW battery storage system (BESS), dwarfing Britain's current largest BESS facility in Hampshire. Local campaigners highlight this would industrialize protected countryside and productive farmland.
2Secretive pre-approval process
Documents reveal Torridge council issued 'in-principle support' in April 2025, over a year before public announcement and without environmental review. Closed discussions with Xlinks began in March 2025, with emails showing officials treating approval as inevitable. Campaigners obtained these through Freedom of Information requests after the company's claimed 'collaborative approach'.
3Massive battery storage dimensions
The BESS component involves 1,720 containerized units across nine hectares per building - large enough to contain Exeter Cathedral 18 times over. While the UK needs 23-27GW battery capacity by 2030 for renewable energy goals, government lacks policies on BESS locations or land use data. Devon activists call this a 'regulatory wild west' with unchecked industrialization risks.
4Water usage concerns escalate
During drought conditions, the campus could consume 2.9 billion liters annually despite claims of rainwater recycling. This alarms residents under current hosepipe bans after record summer heat. Xlinks says newer designs reduce water needs, but hasn't shared details. The UNESCO reserve's ecology depends on sustainable water management now threatened by industrial demand.
5US-style activist tactics emerge
Local groups adopted strategies from American campaigns like Erin Brockovich's, filing FOI requests that exposed undisclosed site plans and meetings. They've mobilized 30,000 petition signers nationally. Elizabeth Humphreys, who secured California's Coachella datacentre ban, advises Devon activists on combating corporate secrecy and environmental risks.
6Contested economic benefits
Xlinks promises £13.8bn investment and 600-1,200 jobs, but locals distrust claims after the company's failed 2024 Morocco-UK energy project rejected by government. The council chair threatened police action against protesters alleging improper process, while PR firms approach parishes for closed meetings - further eroding community trust in transparent dialogue.
7Global versus local tensions
The conflict pits international AI infrastructure demands against protected local ecosystems. As renewable energy needs collide with conservation priorities, Devon becomes a test case for balancing technological growth with environmental safeguards. Activists argue the project's scale and location set dangerous precedents for rural industrialization nationwide.
8Regulatory gaps exposed
No national policies govern datacentre placements outside designated AI zones, allowing companies to target areas with weaker oversight. The UK lacks centralized data on BESS locations or capacity, despite rapid expansion needs. Devon's case reveals how infrastructure projects can exploit these gaps before frameworks adapt to new technological realities.
9Environmental risk factors
Beyond land use, opponents cite potential toxic 'forever chemicals' (PFAS) in wastewater, air pollution, and BESS fire risks in rural areas. The UNESCO biosphere designation means impacts could have international conservation implications. Xlinks pledges 10%+ biodiversity improvements, but activists demand proof before irreversible commitments.
10National policy implications
Devon's uprising forces UK-wide questions about AI infrastructure governance. With 30,000 petitioning for pause on out-of-zone projects, the government faces pressure to develop spatial energy plans and location criteria. The conflict highlights how rapid tech expansion tests democratic processes when community consultation lags behind corporate and political timelines.