Residents Warn 28-Day Consultation Is ‘Nowhere Near Enough’ for Huge Data Centre Plans On Greenbelt Land In Havering.

Residents fighting the proposed East Havering Data Centre are stepping up pressure on Havering Council, demanding the maximum possible consultation period for a development they say is too big, too complex and too controversial to rush through.

Concerned residents and stakeholders are preparing for the forthcoming Local Development Order LDO for the East Havering Data Centre, with many now writing directly to their ward councillors and members of the Strategic Planning Committee. This follows advice from Hornchurch and Upminster MP Julia Lopez, who has already contacted Council Leader Ray Morgon on residents’ behalf.

Residents say they have so far received only a single holding response from the Council, despite repeated correspondence raising concerns about the scale and impact of the proposal. They are now calling for the statutory maximum consultation period of 12 weeks, rather than the minimum 28 days that can be applied under the LDO process.

Campaigners argue that 28 days would be wholly insufficient for residents to properly scrutinise, understand and respond to what they describe as a technically complex development with far-reaching environmental and infrastructure implications. They also warn that the Council may seek to expedite the consultation timetable, potentially bringing it into the pre-election period, a move residents say would undermine transparency and public engagement.

Residents have made clear they want the question of consultation length challenged at the earliest possible stage, including at the Strategic Planning Committee meeting expected on 17 February, should the Committee be asked to agree to proceed to consultation. They argue the consultation period must be established upfront, included in published consultation documents, and not left to be legally challenged after the fact.

Backing these concerns is a detailed legal letter sent on 15 January 2026 by the Environmental Law Foundation ELF to senior Havering Council officers and the Council Leader. A summary of that letter, shared with stakeholders, raises substantive planning, environmental and legal questions.

The site in question lies within the Green Belt and includes protected areas such as SINCs and a Conservation Area. ELF highlights concerns around water abstraction, impacts on the River Mardyke, flood risk, visual harm to the landscape, traffic impacts, noise pollution and carbon emissions. The letter also notes doubts about claims relating to carbon neutrality, biodiversity net gain and job creation, particularly given what it describes as a lack of formal public consultation to date.

The letter also questions the appropriateness and legality of using an LDO for a development of this scale. It notes that alternative routes were available, including allocation through the Local Plan followed by a planning application, which would have allowed for fuller democratic scrutiny. It further highlights that LDOs cannot be called in, do not require Biodiversity Net Gain, and typically allow only 28 days for public response once published.

ELF raises concerns that there has been no meaningful early engagement with the public, despite government guidance stating this is fundamental to the LDO process. The letter also references the Aarhus Convention, which gives the public the right to participate in environmental decision-making, stating that this duty may not have been adequately addressed.

Additional issues raised include the proximity of listed buildings, concerns about site works already carried out, and the need for proper planning enforcement where damage may have occurred.

Residents are asking for time, transparency and proper process. They insist that granting the full 12-week consultation period is the only way residents can fairly assess a proposal they believe could permanently alter the character of East Havering.

As pressure mounts, campaigners are now awaiting confirmation from councillors on what action they will take on behalf of ward residents before the issue escalates further.

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