NEWPORT — Residents in Wales say the spread of new data centres is changing the character of neighbourhoods that were once quiet and low-key. In Newport, Amanda Young said a large development now overlooks her family home and has brought worries about noise, traffic and the effect on house prices.
Data centres are large buildings packed with powerful computers that keep digital services running, from online banking to streaming video. Their growth is being driven by rising demand for artificial intelligence, and the UK government now treats them as critical national infrastructure.
But the expansion has also raised questions about electricity use, water demand, grid capacity and the impact on nearby communities. In south Wales, those concerns are playing out both in Newport and over a separate proposal in Cardiff.
Newport residents say the campus has changed the area
The Vantage Data Center Campus in Newport is expected to include three centres across 46 acres once fully operational. Amanda said the site dominates the view from her home, and that her concern is not just the size of the building but the wider uncertainty around what may follow.
She said the neighbourhood had previously been calm, but the arrival of more data centre projects has left local people unsure about the future. Another resident, Anthony, said construction has taken away the peace of the area because of noise and extra traffic.
Vantage Data Center said it was committed to being a good neighbour and worked with local authorities to manage construction activity, including traffic, noise and lighting. Newport City Council said planning decisions are assessed to make sure impacts are acceptable in terms of biodiversity, light, noise and construction traffic.
Cardiff park and ride plan prompts protest over transport and environment
In Cardiff, campaigners are opposing proposals for a data centre campus in Llanrumney on the site of Cardiff East Park & Ride, which serves passengers travelling to the University Hospital of Wales. Sue Elias, who uses the service and is campaigning with the residents’ union Acorn, said the park and ride was too important to lose.
She said she understands why data centres are needed, but believes there should be a pause to decide the most responsible locations. She warned against building first and worrying about the consequences later. Other local campaigners, including Lizzie Bailey, said the scheme could bring lasting disruption through diesel generators, cooling fans and construction activity.
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board said the park and ride is an essential transport link and that it is committed to finding a suitable and convenient alternative location. Cardiff Council said the proposal is under consideration and will be judged against planning policies and material considerations.
Questions over power, water and community impact grow across the UK
Concerns about the Welsh schemes reflect a wider national debate over the resources data centres need. There are currently 568 listed in the UK, and research suggests the number could rise by almost a fifth, with nine proposed in Wales.
Ofgem says the electricity demand from projects seeking grid connections has jumped from 41GW to 125GW in the past year. Water UK estimates that data centres use about 6.6 million litres of water each day, roughly the same as 20,000 average homes.
Prof Alan Brown of the University of Exeter said authorities need to engage much more with local communities, or residents will feel they are taking the disruption without the benefits. Friends of the Earth is calling for a UK-wide pause until clear rules are set on energy and water use.
Supporters say the sector could bring jobs and a stronger digital economy
Not everyone sees the expansion as a problem. Mark John, co-founder of Tramshed Tech, said data centres and AI infrastructure could give Wales a chance to reimagine itself and become part of what he described as a new industrial revolution.
He said access to data centres is essential if Wales is to benefit from artificial intelligence, and argued that the technology could unlock new capability across the country. He said many people may not like the change, but that society will have to adapt to it.
The UK government says newer data centres are already using advanced cooling systems that cut water use, and says the sector is covered by a Climate Change Agreement aimed at improving energy efficiency. The Welsh government says developments remain subject to planning and environmental checks, while recognising the potential for investment and skilled jobs.
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