Angela Rayner Faces Legal Showdown Over Data Centre Decision in Buckinghamshire

Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister, finds herself at the heart of a legal storm as green activists challenge her decision to approve a £1bn data centre on the edge of the M25 in Iver, Buckinghamshire. The controversial project had previously been rejected twice, first by Buckinghamshire Council and then, in 2023, by former housing minister Michael Gove. Despite these setbacks, the current planning minister, Matthew Pennycook, overruled earlier decisions and gave the green light to the development, emphasising the economic necessity of the investment amid the UK’s sluggish growth.

Campaigners from Foxglove and Global Action Plan have taken legal action, alleging faults in the approval process and a lack of proper environmental assessment. Their legal correspondence argues that the 90 megawatt site, which covers 775,000 square feet, poses a risk to Britain’s climate objectives and would place intense pressure on local resources such as power and water. These organisations raise questions over whether the perceived benefits of artificial intelligence services justify the environmental costs and the strain on the local water and energy supply.

Rayner has used her authority to approve multiple data centre projects since Labour’s rise to government, highlighting a broader strategy led by Sir Keir Starmer to position the UK as a centre for digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence. The government’s argument rests on the promise of significant investment, job creation – with the Iver site alone expected to bring around 230 jobs – and the long-term benefits to science, healthcare, and sustainable energy.

Local concerns persist, with critics warning of a future where residents could be competing with the data centre for essential utilities. The government countered claims about the Iver site’s environmental value, dismissing previous assessments that labelled the area as tranquil despite its position beside a major motorway and on a disused landfill. Greystoke Land, the site’s developer, maintains the centre will incorporate green technologies such as solar panels and heat pumps, seeking to align with sustainable standards.

As global technology giants invest heavily in infrastructure to power AI advancements, the UK’s approach signals a strategic commitment to attracting capital and fostering innovation. The outcome of this dispute could set a precedent for balancing economic stimulus with environmental safeguards in the years ahead.