A proposed "hyperscale" datacentre in outer London would pump out more than 1m tonnes of carbon dioxide a year - equivalent to the carbon footprint of 27,000 flights from London to New York - according to planning documents. Because nothing says "sustainable future" like a server farm that emits like a small country.

The East Havering Data Centre Campus (EHDCC) in North Ockendon would be one of Europe's largest if approved, sprawling across 218 hectares of green belt to run AI and cloud computing servers. Developer Digital Reef calls it "a unique opportunity to create a sustainable datacentre campus of the future," which is a bold claim for a project that its own planning application admits "does not align with a science-based 1.5C compatible trajectory and achieving net zero by 2050."

The documents estimate the £14.7bn project would generate more than 72m tonnes of CO₂e over its 60-year lifespan - 1.2m tonnes annually once fully operational. Guardian analysis of UK datacentre proposals shows EHDCC has the highest disclosed carbon emissions of any developer. Donald Campbell of tech justice nonprofit Foxglove called the figures "staggering," adding it's "a big threat to the ability to decarbonise in the UK" and "a big drain on important resources that are needed by homes and other businesses."

At a "likely" 50% load, the campus would guzzle 2.65bn kWh per year - equivalent to the electricity demand of over 1m UK households, whose average consumption is 2,500 kWh annually, per Ofgem. Power would come via a massive 600MVA connection to the National Grid, requiring new substations and upgrades, with full connection expected by 2033.

To put that in terms the aviation industry can understand, 1.2m tonnes of CO₂e equals 26,795 long-haul flights from Heathrow to JFK, according to the UN's International Civil Aviation Organization's carbon calculator. The North Ockendon Residents Association called the development a "massacre" of green belt land, citing crop-producing farmland, wildlife habitat loss, and pollution costs "everyone seems to brush under the carpet."

The scale of emissions raises questions about reconciling Britain's AI expansion with legally binding climate targets. Datacentres were designated "critical national infrastructure" in 2024, and by early 2025 used 2.5% of UK electricity - projected to quadruple by 2030. In January, planning rules were changed so datacentre developers can bypass local authorities and seek approval directly from government. Grid operator Neso warned MPs that developers have requested 72.8GW of connections by 2039 - nearly 60% more than peak demand last year - driven by the AI race.

The government promised a national policy statement for the sector but hasn't published it. Campbell insists the government must ensure "the public and the environment aren't left to carry the social environmental costs" - especially since these datacentres serve "the wealthiest companies in the world."

By 2038, EHDCC's operational emissions alone would consume nearly 20 times Havering's entire carbon budget and almost 1% of the UK's total. The developer plans to offset any shortfall via a cash payment of about £77.6m to the borough's carbon offset fund - because writing a cheque totally neutralises a century of emissions.

Campbell argues developers should at minimum build additional renewable generation and storage to supply their facilities. "They shouldn't just plug into the grid and drain the power that everyone else needs," he said. The first consultation closed in April; a revised proposal is expected in the autumn. Councillor Keith Prince, Reform UK leader of Havering council, said it would be "wrong" to comment before the decision. Digital Reef did not respond to requests for comment - probably busy calculating how many trees they'd need to plant.