A proposed hyperscale datacentre in outer London would generate over 1 million tonnes of CO2 annually—equivalent to 27,000 transatlantic flights—according to planning documents.
The East Havering Data Centre Campus in north Ockendon would rank among Europe's largest datacentres if approved by Havering council. The facility would consume 218 hectares of green belt land.
Planning documents reveal the annual carbon footprint conflicts with UK net zero targets. The comparison to 27,000 New York flights illustrates the scale of emissions.
Hyperscale datacentres power cloud computing, AI services, and data storage for major tech companies. Their energy demands have grown significantly as digital services expand globally.
The proposal faces scrutiny from environmental groups concerned about green belt development and carbon commitments. Havering council must weigh economic benefits against climate goals as it reviews the application.
Datacentre operators typically argue for renewable energy sources and efficiency improvements, though construction and operational emissions remain substantial for facilities of this scale.
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