THE GREEN Party told ministers today to “get a grip” and block AI data centres from receiving special planning permissions.

Deputy leader Mothin Ali said it was unacceptable that data centres were designated as “critical infrastructure,” allowing developers to avoid the usual planning requirements.

He told the Morning Star that public outcry over the impacts of new data centres was understandable, after the Guardian revealed that one such project in London is projected to emit as much carbon dioxide as 8,480 flights from London to New York.

The hyper-scale data centre in North Ockendon would produce more than 1 million tonnes of CO2 a year and would be one of Europe’s largest projects if approved by Havering council, the newspaper reported today.

The East Havering Data Centre Campus (EHDCC) is set to be built on 218 hectares of green belt land and will mainly be used to power AI and cloud computing services.

Despite the projected climate impacts, developer Digital Reef claimed it was “a unique opportunity to create a sustainable datacentre campus of the future.”

But in the planning application, the company admits that the £14.7 billion project “does not align with a science-based 1.5°C compatible trajectory and achieving net zero by 2050.”

The data centre would generate more than 72m tonnes of CO2 equivalent over its expected 60-year lifespan, with EHDCC reportedly having one of the highest estimated carbon emissions disclosed by a developer.

Mr Ali said: “Data centres are designated as critical infrastructure, which means they get special planning permission and are even given priority for water and electricity.

“That’s unacceptable and the government needs to get a grip on this and put people and planet before the profits of tech billionaires.”

He added: “There is an understandable public outcry about these centres from Leeds to London and Manchester.

“Data centres should work for the people. Instead, people are being told to serve their needs.”

Tech justice campaign group Foxglove described the project’s projected climate impacts as “staggering.”

Advocacy director Donald Campbell said it represented a “big threat to the ability to decarbonise in the UK,” adding: “It’s also going to be a big drain on important resources that are needed by homes and other businesses.”