The development was refused by MP Lee Rowley on behalf of the housing secretary despite 鈥渁 significant and substantial demand for data centres鈥�

The government has refused outline planning permission for a 163,000 sq m data centre next to the M25 amid concerns it will 鈥渞uin the openness鈥� of the Green Belt.

Plans for the Iver Data Centre in Buckinghamshire, which would have housed clustered servers, were proposed by developers Greystoke Land and Altrad Limited.

The plans were for the development of three buildings on a former landfill and quarry site of around 52ha on Slough Road and Iver Lane, between the M25 and the River Colne.

Data centre shutterstock 1

Source: Shutterstock

Developers behind the scheme say it would have created 370 jobs

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Lee Rowley, refused planning permission on appeal on behalf of the housing secretary, Michael Gove.

Last September, Buckinghamshire Council refused the initial planning application for the scheme which, according to estimates made by the developers would have been worth 拢2.5bn to the UK economy and created 370 jobs.

An appeal on this refusal made on behalf of developers Greystoke Land and Altrad Limited was recovered for decision by Gove last December.

The reason given for the application鈥檚 recovery was that the proposal was for 鈥渟ignificant development in the Green Belt.鈥�

In a letter to Pegasus Planning, which is acting on behalf of Greystoke Land and Altrad, Rowley refused permission, explaining the plans would 鈥渟ignificantly harm鈥� the view of the Green Belt from the M25 and would lead to 鈥渦nrestricted sprawl of a large built-up area鈥�.

>>See also: What you need to know about data centre construction

The letter states: 鈥淭he Secretary of State agrees with the Inspector that overall, due to the size, bulk and height of the proposed buildings, the proposal would significantly harm the openness of the Green Belt in this location, both spatially and visually.鈥�

But Rowley did concede 鈥渢here is a significant and substantial demand for new data centres鈥� and that 鈥渢he provision of data centres would make a significant contribution to the UK economy鈥�.

A spokesperson for the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities declined to comment further.

Altrad Limited, Greystoke Land and Pegasus Planning could not be reached ahead of publication.

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