The proposed site for the data centre and battery energy storage site across agricultural land
Proposals for a new data centre in North Devon have sparked concerns with hundreds gathering in the town to sign a petition against its construction. 听
Xlinks plans on building a data centre and battery storage site on agricultural land near Great Torrington which it says would deliver up to 1.5GW of AI-optimised compute capacity, create between 650-1200 new jobs and be worth up to 拢3.6 billion to the economy.听听
It is expected to be the largest of its kind in Europe, spanning across 850-acres between Great Torrington, Weare Gifford and Huntshaw.听
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Campaigners against the plans filled Torrington Town Hall at a public meeting on Monday (June 29) and hundreds more gathered on the street outside.听
Plans for the data centre were first announced when MP for Torridge and Tavistock Sir Geoffrey Cox, held a public meeting on Thursday (June 25).听听
Fifth-generation farmer and Devon County Council's Cabinet Member for Rural Affairs, Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin says the sheer scale of the proposal is deeply concerning.听
"A hyperscale AI data centre and battery storage complex of this size would be the largest in Europe, consuming 850 acres of productive farmland in the heart of our countryside and within a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve," she said.听
"It would be larger than the nearby town of Great Torrington and would permanently alter the character of this rural landscape.听
"Food security is national security, and losing good agricultural land on this scale should concern everyone."听
Ms Cottle-Hunkin highlighted the major environmental implications spanning from the loss of historic Devon hedgerows, wildlife habitats and the setting of a listed farmhouse, to the long-term impacts that a development of this magnitude could have on the environment and local communities.听
She said: "North Devon's identity is built on farming, food production and stewardship of the land, and proposals of this scale demand the highest level of scrutiny and robust public debate.听
"I plan to write to central government ministers and all Devon MPs to call for a Rural Impact Framework for hyperscale AI infrastructure, ensuring that the impacts on food security, farming communities, rural heritage and our most treasured landscapes are properly considered.听听
"The race to build the AI economy must not come at the expense of Britain's food security, rural communities and agricultural heritage."听
The campus will comprise of two separate planning proposals submitted to Torridge District Council: a large-scale, AI-optimised data centre, and an on-site battery energy storage facility to support it.听听
A public consultation on both proposals will run from July 14 to August 11, 2026.听
Alongside this, a series of public information days are due to be held on July 14 in Weare Giffard, July 15 in Great Torrington, July 16 in Huntshaw and July 17 in Bideford.听
The government designated data centres as critical national infrastructure, external in 2024 - on an equal footing as water, energy and emergency services systems. Now it is carrying out an inquiry, external into how much energy and water data centres are likely to use, and how this could impact the government's net zero goals.听
Xlinks has been contacted for comment.听听
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