Norwich data centre raises fears of noise and wildlife impact

A huge data centre planned in a village near a nature reserve would generate "very high noise levels" without extensive measures to block it, experts have said.

Plans have been submitted to South Norfolk Council for a 150 megawatt facility in Keswick on the edge of Norwich, which includes assessments of its potential environmental impact.

The scheme is causing concern, with thousands of people signing a petition against it, due to fears it could harm neighbouring wildlife sites.

But Norwich Apex Data Centre has defended the scheme, claiming assessments showed it would not harm protected areas like Marston Marshes.

The data centre is also causing concern over its potential water usage, noise pollution and the scale of the facility harming the landscape.

Assessments of the noise it could create found it has the "potential to generate very high levels of noise to the surrounding area" and would require extensive mitigation measures.

The majority of noise would come from the 72 chiller units on the roof.

A spokesperson said: "Our environmental assessments conclude the data centre will not harm nearby designated wildlife sites.

"The data centre will use air-cooling technology, meaning no water will be required for cooling. Water will only be needed for everyday uses, such as toilets and staff facilities, with none taken from nearby rivers or marshes.

"The facility has also been designed so that operational noise levels at surrounding sensitive locations are in line with existing background levels."

The firm also said the facility could create up to 150 permanent jobs and that it would create planting and landscaping to screen the development and reduce the visual impact.

It would also be located close to an electrical substation for offshore wind farms in the North Sea, from which it could draw power.

The project has already been met with opposition, with thousands signing a petition against it.

Daniel Elmer, the Conservative leader of South Norfolk Council and county councillor for Keswick, said he will formally object to the proposed facility.

He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "My personal view, is that it is just too damned big for the site it would be on.

"It is right next to the marshes and the southern edge of Norwich, while it is near a listed church.

"That's the southern gateway into the city of Norwich. I think you have to think, in terms of the Norwich 'brand', what visitors to the city would see when they travel down that road.

"What they see needs to be aesthetically pleasing and I am not sure that is what they will get, given the application which has been submitted at the moment."

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