Controversial Huddersfield data centre gets go ahead
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Proposed facility in West Yorkshire narrowly approved amid local doubts about job creation
A controversial data centre development project in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, has been approved by the local planning authorities.
The plan to build a 345,000 square foot facility on Lindley Moor has met with local opposition.
The Lindley Moor Action Group, supported by local MP Jason McCartney, opposes the data centre development on the grounds that it involves the loss "an irreplacable greenfield community amenity", when alternative brownfield sites are available.
The group has described claims by developers Stirling Scotfield that the facility would create upwards of 150 jobs as "nonsense".
"The intimation has been that jobs would be on offer within the data centre, but the reality is that such jobs are predominantly transfers from elsewhere," the group claims on its website. "Relocation of labour is the norm [and] the hint that local people 'will benefit' is a serious myth."
A planning application from the developer's agency ID Planning acknowledged that "data centres are a reasonably low job generator" but argued that can they can help in "creating indirect jobs and creating, attracting and retaining similar industry clusters".
The proposed facility will be designed to achieve a "good" rating in the BREEAM energy efficiency building standards.
Stirling Scotfield first proposed the development in 2009, but its planning application was initially turned down. It resubmitted its application last year, following various amendments.
A spokesperson for Kirklees borough council told Information Age that the project was only narrowly approved, with eight votes to seven. A separate proposal to build 300 homes near the site was turned down.
