Special Report:’It’s all about the money’-Residents hit back at Havering Council over Data Centre build on Greenbelt land.

“We are not going to be swept under the carpet, we will fight against this”.

Residents living in North Ockendon attended a meeting yesterday organised by the current MP for Hornchurch and Upminster Julia Lopez, on the possible build of a large Data Centre. The meeting held at the nearby golf club Top Meadow, allowed residents to voice their concerns and endless anger, at the possible build of this data centre and the poor way the council has dealt with residents living nearby.

Fenn Lane, runs from North Ockendon, into Essex. It is one of the narrowest roads in the borough, cars struggle to pass each other and pedestrians have no pavement and walk along grass banks. It hosts endless wildlife on greenbelt land and backs a conservation area. It is a quiet road, where residents who live there bought houses to be amongst fields and our wildlife.

This is the area Havering Council have agreed to place a data centre that will comprise of 84 buildings, large metal fencing, over 9,000 workers to construct it and could take ten years to build.

At the meeting yesterday afternoon, residents spoke about the many points against the building of this data centre at that location. The narrow roads that already struggle with two cars, would not cope with the endless lorries coming down there to access the site. Nurses or carers who walk to different houses would be in possible danger of lorries coming down the road. One local resident spoke about being hit by a car at the top end of Fenn Lane. The noise pollution impacting residents nearby. And of course, the destruction to our wildlife. A recent report by wildlife charities urged all our political parties to save our wildlife, yet this build would cause severe damage to the many species residing there.

Residents are not angry at the building of a data centre, it is the very poor location the council have agreed on. One resident said: “It’s the way the council have done this, they are trying to get this in through the back door. They say they are Havering Residents and represent us, but this shows us they don’t.”

Another residents said: “It’s all about the wallet and not residents, we are not going to be swept under the carpet. We are going to fight this.” One added: “We have not had any consultation, we live in a democracy, then give us the opportunity to object this, but you haven’t.”

Ian Pirie from Havering Friends of the Earth, attended the meeting and has read the 180 page report issued by the Council. He told the Havering Daily:

“The clearest message that Julia Lopez received from residents and sympathisers today was that there has been a total failure on the part of the council to inform North Ockendon residents of their plans. Although there have been discussions about the proposed data centre since probably 2022, and certainly 2023, no one had thought to consult or warn the residents.  The council seems to have been blinded by the prospect of income from business rates, and the vision of Havering as a base for the largest data centre in Europe! Residents have not been considered – with no mention of neighbouring houses, and no pictures on any of the maps and diagrams in the planning documents, to show that there are actual, real people living nearby. 

Residents expressed in no uncertain terms their anxieties about building works lasting at least ten years, heavy lorries on small village roads, noise pollution, the erection of huge fences, the impact on drainage, sewage, etc etc. 

Julia Lopez spoke about having been involved in promoting a link with the proposed Freeport, to ensure that Havering got maximum returns from the business rates, and yet, despite this and her experience as an MP, and a Minister, she couldn’t throw any light on the Local Development Order (LDO) which the council is using to push forward this proposal, and I think she was surprised at the strength of the opposition. 

She did say that she would convey the concerns of residents to Ray Morgon, council leader, and she would stress the breakdown in communication from the council.”

The meeting conveyed a clear message of anger and disappointment at the council. There were no councillors, or local ward councillors at yesterday’s meeting.

Julia Lopez told the Havering Daily:

‘I am very grateful to North Ockendon residents for getting in touch to ask for a meeting about the proposed East Havering Data Centre. It was important to hear the community’s concerns today at the Top Meadow golf club, and I appreciate Danny hosting us.

The Data Centre plan is a collaboration between developer, Digital Reef, and Havering Council. As I set out to residents, I have broadly been supportive of that plan because it could help develop the economy of the borough and the region, and it is important for the UK to have secure data infrastructure. The Council is keen to retain any business rates generated from the site. So in the event that it gets planning permission, I have asked for the Data Centre to be brought within the boundary of the Thames Freeport so that that money can stay wholly within Havering.

Nonetheless, it was very clear from today’s meeting that residents do not feel they have been given enough information about the plans, adequate notice of the application or a fair opportunity to engage with it. Residents raised a number of valid worries in relation to the impact of construction traffic in the area and the capacity of roads to handle it. They are also anxious about the Council’s role as both sponsor of the planning application and deciding body. Some residents’ homes will be substantially affected and there are concerns about the environmental impact, particularly in relation to the flood plain.

This is a significant development and while it brings benefit to the borough it is also important to reflect on the direct impact upon those closest to it and make sure those residents get the information they need. I have therefore offered to set out the issues raised with me to the Council Leader and make the planning committee aware of them too ahead of any decision being taken. I will, of course, share any answers I get from Havering Council and North Ockendon’s councillors.”

The battle continues………..

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