Retirement village anger over 'huge' data centre

Wadswick Green retirement village residents object plans for a new data centre

The residents of a Wiltshire retirement village are opposing plans to build an 18-metre (59 ft) high data centre they say would disrupt their sleep and cause them mental strain.

The proposal is an extension to the existing Ark Data's Spring Park campus in the small village of Neston, near Corsham.

A group of residents from the nearby Wadswick Green retirement village have described the plans as "very disturbing" and causing "quite a lot of distress".

Ark Data Centres and Wiltshire Council have been approached for further comment.

According to the planning application, the data centres within Ark's Spring Park Campus are used to "house critical computer systems".

The application, if successful, would see the ultra-secure facility branch out onto the field south of Westwells Road.

A previous extension, which generated some objections from Neston residents, was recently approved on adjacent land.

Victor Steadman, 67, said that about 100 residents of Wadswick Green have objected to the new application.

Residents have raised a number of concerns about the data centre

He has lived in the retirement village for nine years and said a low-frequency hum can already be heard by some of his neighbours.

The issue has also been reported to the Local Democracy Reporting Service by individuals living in Westwells, who described a "droning sound at night" coming from the generators.

Mr Steadman sad: "Older people have problems enough sleeping anyway, put bright light and this low frequency noise problem there, their sleep patterns are going to be disturbed."

He added that this would harm residents' physical and mental health.

"People have moved here in expectation of a quiet retirement," said Mr Steadman.

The new data centre would be an extension of the original centre in Neston

He said the glow from the existing site is like "looking on an airport terminal".

The Wadswick Green groups claims the retirement village was not consulted on the extension and was "shocked" by the "huge" size of it.

Concerns were also raised about the impact on wildlife, flooding, and the access road used by "elderly and vulnerable" people.

The application submitted by Ark states: “The proposed development will be implemented in line with Ark’s sustainability requirements.

“The proposed development will also minimise the impact on the local road networks and the wider environment.”