UK town fights 850-acre AI datacentre plan, rebuts Osborne's nimby charge
nordicinst · x · 2026-09-30
Guardian letters push back on George Osborne's claim that datacentre opponents are nimbys, citing a concrete fight in Devon, UK.
- Residents of Great Torrington oppose plans for one of Europe's largest datacentres plus a battery energy storage system on 850 acres of farmland — bigger than the town itself and accessed via narrow country lanes.
- Letter writer Moira Brewer says the project would bring noise, lights and huge energy and water demands, damaging a rural landscape and the visitor economy, and vows residents "will not accept this monstrosity without a fight."
- The piece ties into broader backlash, including protests in north Devon and debates in Nordic AI hubs over growth versus quality of life.
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