UK government rejects petition for data centre moratorium

The UK government has rejected a petition calling for a moratorium on planning permissions for data centres and battery energy storage systems (BESS). The petition, initiated by Devon County Council cabinet member Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin, garnered nearly 30,000 signatures. It sought to pause such developments outside of designated AI growth zones to protect rural areas.

In its response, the government stated it has no plans to introduce a moratorium, asserting that these facilities are vital for economic growth and are already subject to strict local planning processes.

The dispute follows proposed plans for a £13 billion AI data centre and BESS facility in Torrington, which would be among the largest in Europe. The project, associated with developer Xlinks, has raised concerns regarding the North Devon Biosphere. UNESCO has noted that any decisions regarding the site must factor in the potential impact on the area's biosphere classification.