“Construction of a data centre (Use Class B8) including ancillary office accommodation, associated infrastructure, substations, backup generators, access, parking, landscaping, sustainable drainage systems and associated works.
Land West Of Ipswich Road Keswick Norfolk”
The Yare Valley Society will be closely examining the application over the next few days and will then be better placed to give some guidance on this website on how best to respond.
It is important that we all as individuals write in to make our voice heard.
Any response YVS makes will have to be in line with the Society’s Constitution, which will limit it to the impact on the wildlife of the Valley and its use for informal recreation. Your response will almost certainly have a wider brief and include the well-being of people living in their own homes and going about their daily lives.
The programme for the Volunteers is open to all and in a wide spread of locations. Relevant to the Yare Valley this month is the clearing of brambles in the Bluebell Woods (Eaton Park) on the 7th October, and the trimming of hedges at Eaton Burial Ground on the 10th October. These two locations are important stepping stones in connecting the Yare Valley Green Corridor with the surrounding ecological network.
More on the huge 150 MW Keswick Data Centre proposed at Keswick and in the “hyperscale” category as regards size.
Almost all of us make use of data centres on a regular basis, and with the advance of AI more will be necessary, but the proposed location at Keswick could be disastrous. Two main reasons stand out why this would be so:
The location in the Yare Valley adjacent to a Key Green Infrastructure Corridor could seriously interfere with wildlife habitats, foraging and migration, and significantly reduce the amenity of the public spaces of Danby Wood, Marston Marsh, and Eaton Common.
The location is also isolated from opportunities to put its large heat output (in excess of 100 MW?) to useful purpose, and so the heat will be dispersed into the surrounding area, raising local temperature levels.
What could be the effects of a 150MW Data Centre in the Valley?
Experience of existing Data Centres in the UK and elsewhere is that their most striking adverse effects are to create noise, heat, and air pollution extending over distances of up to 2 miles (3.2 km) or more into the surrounding area.
Noise: The massive cooling fans generate a continuous low frequency hum or drone 24/7 capable of bypassing standard sound barriers. More intense sound will be created by a multitude of emergency backup diesel generators during their regular monthly testing, or when they are run continuously in the event of a power failure. Exposure to environmental noise is known to increase the risk of mental health disorders, including depression, chronic anxiety, and psychological distress.
Heat: The Data Centre will be effectively a giant space heater ejecting most of its up to 150 MW into the air creating a “heat island” effect adding to the elevated temperatures already being experienced by climate change. Increased environmental temperatures are not only uncomfortable, but they increase mortality and can aggravate certain medical conditions.
Air: The emergency backup diesel generators will release fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) during testing and during grid outages. This will degrade the local air quality in a way dependent on wind direction. These pollutants are linked to respiratory disease, heart disease, asthma and other serious health risks.
Other effects include those produced by lighting, electromagnetic radiation, and hydrological disturbance, but the above gives a taste of what might be to come.
Danby Wood, Marston Marsh, and Eaton Common could cease to be places of relative peace, tranquillity and seeming remoteness, where people can go to recharge their well-being.
So much for humans, what about the wildlife?
The effects on wildlife living in the Valley could be even more serious than that on humans. affecting habitat, foraging and migration along the Valley corridor.
Noise: Sensitive species in Danby Wood, Marston Marsh, Keswick Marsh, and Eaton Common, including swans, waterfowl, bats, and amphibians, are vulnerable to chronic noise disturbance.
Heat: Increased temperatures could change the local ecosystem, affecting vegetation, composition of populations, and breeding.
Air: Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) can cause respiratory damage, poison habitats, and reduce biodiversity.
The Yare Valley has been identified as a Strategic Green Infrastructure Corridor, with an essential role in the local green ecological network and in combating declining biodiversity. This role could be seriously and irreversibly damaged .
The Site viewed from the proposed roundabout on the Mulbarton Road in the direction of the traffic lights at Tesco (a road will be built to join the two). Note the few mature tall trees remaining on the Ipswich Road
What is the Yare Valley Society doing?
To have a better understanding of the variety of these impacts, the Yare Valley Society has assembled a Data Centre Research Team. The Team’s members have a wide range experience and expertise. They are creating a Database grounded in reliable research that can be used to prepare a strong case to defend both the wildlife of the Valley and the use of its green space for relaxing recreation.
If you have firm evidence of the existence of endangered wildlife in Danby Wood, on Marston Marsh or on Eaton Common please let us know at yvs@yarevalleysociety.org.uk.
What can I do?
When or if a Planning Application is submitted, it can be expected to have a lot of complex detail which will need to be analysed and responded to in an effective way – all within a window of possibly as little as 21 days. The Team will be ready to respond but it is important that we all as individuals write in to make our voice heard. Any response YVS makes will have to be in line with the Society’s Constitution, which will limit it to the impact on the wildlife of the Valley and its use for informal recreation. Your response will almost certainly have a wider brief and include the well-being of people living in their own homes and going about their daily lives.
The Site viewed from the Northeast. The removal of what would have been mature tall screening trees on the Ipswich Road does not augur well for what might be in the Planning Application
A lot going on this month, as Mark Webster explains:
After a fire and brimstone summer, we are already moving into a sort-of autumn with leaves falling from the trees, the football is back already (did it ever go away?) and so here and now is your September activity programme, packed with useful things to do, but also the chance to discover much more about our threatened wildlife. We always try to include a little bit of learning on our sessions (whether that’s how to use traditional tools, the history of the places we work at, or a bit about the animals we spot) but this month we will especially focus on the flora, as from 9th September our Wild Plant Wednesdays will include a look at the varied plantlife of the sites we are working at in a bit more detail.
As for the actual practical action, we will be doing several task days to help look after Mousehold Heath, where the remaining habitats there are even more precious after a devastating fire, and we will also be paying some extra attention to Smockmill Common, expanding the central meadow area by cutting back encroaching brambles etc. There’s a welcome return to Alderford Common, a site packed with historic interest and nationally significant levels of biodiversity, plus everywhere from a small hidden, private woodland glade (Alpington) to some very popular and vital green spaces right in the centre of Norwich (Ketts Cave, Netherwood Green) all of which have lovely meadow areas amongst their important trees.
Please do encourage anyone who you think could benefit from getting out to join us whenever they can: wildlife needs all the help it can get right now, and we really appreciate anyone giving a few hours to help out. Oh, and they will definitely* enjoy it too!
The deadline to respond to the three storey care home block Planning Application for the Bartram Mowers site is 3rd September.
LNT Care Developments has submitted a Planning Application for the development of a large new three-storey 66 bed care home for older people with a new road, associated access, parking and landscaping. The existing old Bartram Mowers building will be demolished, and the new block will be on roughly the same footprint, but will be taller.
You can find the application details online at Norwich Planning Department using application number 26/00652/F and selecting the Documents tab, then View associated documents. Anyone without access to the internet can obtain information about the development by ringing 01603 989342.
Existing Bartram Mowers Building adjacent to green landscaped open space Photo: Lisa Morgan
It is important that anyone with concerns about the Application should respond in writing before 8th September, (a later date than previously advertised). The Yare Valley Society response is here.
The site of the proposed developments forms part of the Yare Valley wildlife corridor and is immediately adjacent to the designated Yare Valley Strategic Green Infrastructure Corridor in Local Plans. It will impact on the Yare Valley (including Bowthorpe Southern Park) both visually and ecologically.
Peaceful grazing on Bowthorpe Southern Park Photo: J Elbro
The Application consists of two parts, the first part is for full planning permission for 116 homes and communal buildings for anyone aged 55 or over, and the second part is for outline planning permission for an 80-bed specialist dementia care home.
YVS is particularly concerned that no Ecological Impact Assessment seems to have been made for this Application, and so a decision could be made in ignorance of the development’s potential damage to the wildlife corridor.
In making your response you may find it helpful to look at the submission of the Yare Valley Society which is here.
The Conservation Volunteers offer opportunities to volunteer every weekday in various locations in Norfolk. From time to time they offer specialist training.
This month on Friday 7th August they will be in Bowthorpe Southern Park pulling up ragwort to help protect the animals that graze there.
An AI Data Centre is being proposed on the large triangle of land opposite Tesco near Harford Bridge. Data centres are already causing concern in other parts of the country because of their size, energy and water requirements, heat output, etc., etc, …..
The environmental impact of the Centre on the Yare Valley Green infrastructure Corridor could be huge!
Respond now to the pre-planning application consultation which ends on July 12. You can find out more by attending an event at the Keswick Reading Rooms between 3pm and 7pm on July 7 when the plans can be discussed.
Here is a link to what is being proposed: apex Norwich Data Centre . If the link does not work, try using another browser!
The clarity of the Apex site is less than adequate, and so do get along to the event on July 7 if you possibly can.
There are many questions to be asked, and some of the questions the YVS committee will be asking are in the latest Newsletter N128 July 2026.
Many other opportunities to give nature a helping hand in the Valley, but more often further afield, are available through the Conservation Volunteers organised by Mark Webster. The July programme, and Mark’s letter of the month are here.
All are welcome to join a Yare Valley Meadow Makers (YVMM) work party to collect ox-eye daisy seeds from Strawberry Field on Sunday 5th July from 2 to 3 pm. Meet at 2 pm at the main Strawberry Field gate ( on Bluebell Road) near to the McCarthy Stone Sheltered Housing development. YVMM will use the seeds in the autumn to boost its other meadow sites. Please let Matt Tomlinson of the YVMM know if you hope to come along (yarevalleymeadowmakers@gmail.com).
