Technology

Green Party calls for temporary ban on new English data centres over environmental concerns

Party leader Zack Polanski advocates for a freeze on approvals, while the UK government warns a pause would harm jobs and national security.

Updated Aug 27, 2026 · 23:18 UTC1 reports

The short version

Green Party leader Zack Polanski called for a moratorium on approving new data centres in England, citing heavy energy and water usage.
The UK government rejected the proposal, arguing that halting construction would harm national security, jobs, and foreign investment.
UK data centres currently have no mandatory requirement to report their water usage, though industry estimates indicate significant consumption.

Green Party leader Zack Polanski proposed a temporary ban on approving new data centres in England, excepting small-scale local facilities, alongside demands for annual resource reporting and stronger community input.[BBC News]
The UK government opposed a moratorium, stating that a pause would risk national security and economic growth by forcing sensitive health and defence data processing overseas.[BBC News]
Data centres were designated as critical infrastructure by the UK government in 2024, granting them extra support during cyberattacks or extreme weather.[BBC News]
UK data centres are currently not legally required to publish their water consumption figures.[BBC News]
Consultancy firm Water Research Centre estimated in February that data centres in England consume approximately 1.9 billion litres of drinkable water annually.[BBC News]

Official UK figures on total water consumption by data centres do not exist, leaving the full environmental impact reliant on independent estimates.[BBC News]
The Greens claim critical infrastructure status could prioritize data centres over households for water during shortages, while the government states they would not automatically receive priority.[BBC News]