Source URL: https://www.theregister.com/2024/09/17/objections_to_datacenter_builds_cni/
Source: The Register
Title: Objections to datacenter builds may be overruled now they are ‘Critical National Infrastructure’
Feedly Summary: Well you wouldn’t get far protesting a water system or a power grid, right?
The UK government’s decision to designate datacenters as critical national infrastructure (CNI) may do more than just offer protection against critical incidents; it may also allow developers to override any local objections to such facilities being built.…
AI Summary and Description: Yes
Summary: The UK government has designated datacenters as critical national infrastructure (CNI), enhancing their support in emergencies and easing local planning restrictions. This move aims to bolster datacenter development amidst opposition from local communities concerned about the impact and limited employment opportunities resulting from such facilities.
Detailed Description:
– The UK government’s classification of datacenters as critical national infrastructure (CNI) aligns them with essential services such as water and power, showcasing the importance of digital infrastructure in economic and daily life.
– This designation offers:
– **Increased Government Support**: Enhanced assistance during emergencies and recovery from incidents.
– **Eased Planning Restrictions**: Developers can more easily override local objections to building datacenters.
– Concerns have emerged regarding local opposition, particularly in areas near London where new datacenters might be planned on green belt land. Communities are worried about the environmental and social implications of such developments.
– A civil servant emphasized that datacenters could pose challenges in local employment, highlighting the disparity between community needs and the development of facilities that offer few jobs.
– The potential revival of previously rejected datacenter projects raises further anxieties among residents.
– The move is positioned as an effort to make the UK more attractive for datacenter investments, specifically aimed at fostering significant developments, such as a £4 billion project for Europe’s largest datacenter.
– Comparisons were drawn to other regions, such as Virginia in the US, where lax restrictions led to a saturation of datacenters, stressing the need for careful planning and consideration of local community values.
– This decision is likely to influence the investment climate in the UK and may set precedents for how digital infrastructure is prioritized in future governance.
Key Points:
– Datacenters now recognized as essential for national infrastructure.
– Increased support from the UK government for datacenter operations.
– Potential local opposition due to environmental and employment concerns.
– Need for a balanced approach to meet the demands of tech infrastructure and community interests.