A six-day inquiry into plans for a new data centre in Abbots Langley has now concluded, having met strong opposition from Three Rivers District Council (TRDC).
In the October edition of ABBOTSnews, we reported that the inquiry would take place on Tuesday, October 8.
Now the inquiry has been completed, the Planning Inspector will make a recommendation to Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner MP on whether to allow the scheme to go ahead. The final decision lies in her hands.
The plan, proposed by Greystoke Land, would involve the construction of a data centre of up to 84,000 square metres in size across two buildings housing computing and storage resources.
The plan was initially rejected by TRDC on Thursday, January 25, but after the new government listed data centres as a Critical National Infrastructure, reviews are being made into previously rejected planning proposals.
District councillor Vicky Edwards, who represents Abbots Langley and Bedmond Ward, said at the inquiry: “If this proposal should go ahead, it will ruin the lives of those living in the nearby area and damage our village character forever.”
Before Greystoke Land appealed the decision, TRDC said the scheme would cause “inappropriate development in the green belt”.
Cllr Edwards added: “The data centre would tower over Notley Court, dominating the views and becoming the main feature of the landscape for those residents.
“The noise from the cooling systems and the 24/7 lighting and security would turn what is the quiet edge of the village into a noisy industrial centre.”
Greystoke Land has been contacted for comment.
Photo credit: Pegasus Group
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