England is running dry while tech companies build massive digital fortresses. Green Party leader Zack Polanski wants to slam the brakes on new data centre approvals immediately.
The debate pits artificial intelligence infrastructure against basic human needs like water and electricity. Most people think critical infrastructure means hospitals or water treatment plants. The government currently classifies data centres under that same critical umbrella. Polanski argues this designation makes no sense when three-quarters of the country faces drought conditions.
The Energy and Water Crisis Behind the Tech Rush
Data centres require immense power and constant cooling. Large facilities can consume millions of litres of water daily. They also draw enough electricity to rival small towns.
Concentrated heavily in London and the south of England, hundreds of these facilities already operate or sit in the pipeline. Critics point out that grid capacity constraints have already delayed residential home building in London. When power grids strain under the weight of server racks, local communities feel the pinch.
Polanski visited a proposed site in East London to voice deep frustration. He argues that prioritizing tech billionaires over households during water shortages crosses a dangerous line. Environmental groups like Global Action Plan and Friends of the Earth share these anxieties, warning that public resources shouldn't subsidize corporate carbon footprints.
What the Government and Tech Sector Say
Ministers refuse to halt construction. The government defends its position by pointing to economic fallout. Officials argue that freezing developments would send skilled jobs and billions in investment straight to other countries. They also claim that relying on overseas computing for sensitive defence and health data compromises national security.
Industry bodies push back against the "water-guzzling" label. Representatives from organizations like the Data Centre Alliance argue that facilities use a fraction of the water consumed by standard leisure complexes or golf courses. Tech advocates stress that modern banking, communications, and daily digital infrastructure rely entirely on these data hubs.
Yet transparency remains a major sticking point. Operators face minimal mandatory requirements to publish exact utility consumption metrics in the UK. Without clear data, measuring the true environmental toll stays difficult.
Where the Policy Goes From Here
The Green Party wants strict limits moving forward. Their proposal includes a moratorium on large-scale builds, mandatory use of brownfield sites, and forcing developers to construct dedicated renewable energy sources alongside their servers.
Local councils are caught in the middle of national growth targets and fierce community pushback. Expect local planning battles over digital infrastructure to intensify as water stress worsens across England. Check your local council planning portal if a facility is proposed near you, and voice your concerns to your MP before concrete gets poured.
