Data Centre proposal must do more to protect the environment and deliver local benefit, say Lib Dems
Wokingham Borough Liberal Democrats have raised questions about whether the proposed data centre at Thames Valley Park can be compatible with local and national climate commitments, and avoid compromising delivery of the new Royal Berkshire Hospital.
The outline application would replace three former Microsoft office buildings at Thames Valley Park with a 72MW data centre. Only 1.8MW of grid electricity is available to the site at first, so the data halls and cooling systems would initially run on gas-powered fuel cells. The network operator has given 2037 as the backstop date for a larger grid connection. Even then, only 60MW of the site's expected 110MW peak demand has been secured, so the fuel cells could keep running alongside the grid.
The Liberal Democrats recognise that digital infrastructure supports businesses, jobs and national security. But the party says the current proposal raises two major concerns. The first is an energy strategy that relies on fossil fuels for a prolonged period. The second is too little regard for the strategic future of the wider Thames Valley Park site, which is one of the potential locations for the new Royal Berkshire Hospital.
The party is also asking for much greater community benefit, should the data centre go ahead. There is good potential to supply waste heat to local heat networks, which would help households and businesses move away from gas heating, including Reading's planned town-wide heat network. But the data centre application commits only to safeguarding space for a future connection - not building or funding it. The decision not to use water for cooling is welcomed, given the pressure on the Thames and growing water scarcity in the region.
Cllr Stephen Conway, Leader of Wokingham Borough Council, said:
"We want Thames Valley Park to thrive, and data centres are part of a modern economy. But a development of this scale must fit with our climate commitments and the bigger picture for the site.
"As we begin work on our next Local Plan, with the borough's housing target almost doubling, brownfield sites like Thames Valley Park could take high-density homes and ease pressure on our countryside. This development mustn't close off that opportunity.
"The decision on this application legally rests with the Planning Committee, and must be judged strictly against planning policy."
Cllr Lou Timlin, Executive Member for Climate Emergency, said:
"On the applicant's own figures, this would become the largest single source of emissions in our borough, equal to around a quarter of the entire Borough’s carbon footprint.
"Data centres need huge amounts of power, so to be part of a thriving future for our country they belong where clean, renewable electricity is available, not where they have to be powered by gas for a decade or more."
Clive Jones, MP for Wokingham, said:
"People across Berkshire need a new Royal Berkshire Hospital, and they have waited long enough.
"Thames Valley Park is one of the potential sites. Nothing built there should raise any doubt about a secure, reliable power supply that could cause further delays in delivering the new Hospital."
Mike Giles, Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate for Earley & Woodley, said:
“As it stands, this proposed data centre project offers very little benefit to Earley and Woodley. The developers need to go back to the drawing board to ensure it delivers for local residents.”
The application will be decided by the council's Planning Committee against local and national planning policy. Residents can view the plans and comment on the Wokingham Borough Council's online planning portal (reference 262274) until 29 October.