A datacentre development project in Iver, Buckinghamshire, has been denied planning permission for the second time by local authority officials. The investment company, Greystoke Land, had applied for permission to build a datacentre on Green Belt land, but the council refused the proposal citing concerns about the impact on the area’s character and appearance.
Despite being denied permission previously in 2022, Greystoke Land submitted a revised proposal in March 2024, which was also rejected by the council. The company has the option to appeal the decision to the secretary of state, but it is unclear if they will pursue this course of action.
The latest proposal, prepared by Pegasus Group, addresses some of the concerns raised by the previous rejection, but the company is still facing obstacles in obtaining permission for the project. The need for datacentre capacity in the area is acknowledged, but the council remains adamant about protecting the Green Belt land.
The secretary of state’s initial decision to deny permission for the datacentre project made national headlines and sparked criticism from various parties. The case has become a focal point for discussions about the need to streamline the planning process for datacentre developments.