Data Centers: Planning & EIA
There are around 9 million data centers in the world. And before building one there are lots of considerations to take in to account:
- proximity to power grids
- telecommunications infrastructure
- networking services
- transportation lines and emergency services.
- flight paths
- neighboring power drains
- geological risks
- climate
Obtaining Planning Permission for a Data Center
In the UK, data centres are generally classified as Schedule 2 developments under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations. Because of their scale and intensive resource use, Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) often require a full Environmental Statement (ES) to be submitted with the planning application.
Data Centers are Large Square Buildings
Common EIA Elements for Data Centres
An EIA for a data center is structured into several technical chapters. These are the most frequent requirements from an LPA:
- Noise and Vibration: Assessing the impact of 24/7 cooling fans, backup generators (tested periodically), and construction traffic on nearby residents.
- Landscape and Visual Impact (LVIA): Data centres are often large, windowless “big box” buildings. The LVIA assesses how they sit in the landscape, including “glint and glare” from panels and the effect of night-time security lighting.
- Climate and Energy: Detailed analysis of power demand and greenhouse gas emissions. Following 2024 reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), this now includes how the facility supports the “modern economy.”
- Air Quality: Focuses on emissions from emergency backup diesel generators and construction dust.
- Socio-Economics: Employment generation (construction vs. operational jobs) and the facility’s contribution to the local digital economy.
- Water Environment: Data centres require significant cooling. LPAs require assessments of water consumption, drainage, and potential impact on local aquifers.
- Biodiversity: Demonstrating a 10% Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), which is a mandatory requirement for most UK developments.
How Can We Help?
If you have a site in mind where you would like to build a data center please contact us, and we will work with you team to guide you through the planning process.
Ideas
Data centers create a lot of heat. Could you get paid for that heat? What about building a data center under a shopping center or next to a paper mill? Talk to us about that, and how it might work.