Activists across the UK are preparing for two days of nationwide protests against the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence data centres, warning that the facilities could undermine climate goals and disrupt local communities.
The demonstrations, beginning on Friday, are being coordinated by Global Action Plan, reflecting a broader global pushback against the environmental footprint of AI infrastructure. Campaigners say the centres consume vast amounts of electricity and water at a time when Britain is already struggling to meet its climate commitments.
Organisers argue that the unchecked growth of hyperscale data centres is being driven by Big Tech’s race to expand AI capacity, often without sufficient public consultation. One of the largest planned events, titled March Against The Machines, is set to start outside the London offices of OpenAI on Saturday.
Although the UK does not maintain an official definition or registry of data centres, industry estimates suggest there are roughly 450 facilities nationwide. Demand is accelerating as AI adoption spreads across industries, from finance and healthcare to defence and consumer technology.
Energy regulators have warned that around 140 proposed data centres have already signalled their intention to connect to the national grid, potentially requiring up to 50 gigawatts of power. That figure exceeds Britain’s recent peak electricity demand, intensifying concerns about grid capacity and energy security.
Tech companies are increasingly investing in their own power infrastructure to secure reliable electricity supplies, underscoring how energy access has become a bottleneck for AI growth. Critics argue that this shift risks locking the UK into higher emissions unless renewable capacity expands at the same pace.
Local resistance is strongest in areas facing new construction. In Havering, east London, campaigners say proposed sites threaten green belt land and farmland, citing heavy water use and permanent landscape damage. Similar opposition has emerged in Buckinghamshire, where residents fear decisions are being rushed through planning processes.
Community leaders are now calling for a pause on new hyperscale developments. They want a public inquiry, stronger local engagement and clearer national rules before further AI data centre projects are approved, warning that social and environmental costs are being ignored in the rush to scale up artificial intelligence.
