The Small English Town Swept Up in the Global AI Arms Race

Equinix plans massive Potters Bar data center

Multinational data center operator Equinix acquired 85 acres of farmland in Potters Bar to build one of the largest industrial-scale data centers in Europe. The company purchased the land in October 2025 following a controversial planning approval process that began the previous year. This project targets the growing demand for infrastructure capable of training and running advanced AI models.

The development site sits between the town of Potters Bar and the village of South Mimms. A property developer first applied for permission to build on this site in September 2024. Local residents immediately formed a protest group on Facebook that attracted more than 1,000 members within weeks.

Hertsmere Borough Council granted planning permission in January 2025 despite significant local opposition. The council determined that the economic benefits of the facility outweighed the loss of the green space. Equinix expects to break ground on the facility later this year to meet strict construction timelines.

New policy reclassifies protected land

The UK government introduced a new land classification called gray belt in 2024 to speed up industrial development. This designation describes portions of the traditional greenbelt that the government deems underperforming or low-quality. The Potters Bar site fell under this new classification, allowing developers to bypass long-standing protections for rural land.

UK law previously restricted construction on greenbelt land to very special circumstances. The 2024 policy shift also designated data centers as critical national infrastructure. This status gives data center projects priority in the planning system and makes it harder for local authorities to reject them.

Local residents dispute the council's claim that the land is low-quality. They argue the fields provide a vital buffer against highway noise and serve as an essential space for community exercise. The protest group notes that the council recently blocked a housing development on an adjacent field to preserve its agricultural value.

Billions in investment and infrastructure

Equinix estimates the total cost of the Potters Bar development will exceed $5 billion. The project represents a significant injection of capital into the local economy during the construction phase and beyond. The company expects the facility to handle high-density workloads specifically for artificial intelligence applications.

The project provides several key economic benefits according to council projections:

• Creation of 2,500 temporary construction jobs during the build phase.
• Establishment of 200 permanent on-site roles once the facility is operational.
• Generation of approximately $27 million in annual property tax.
• Retention of 50 percent of that tax revenue by the local government for frontline services.

Jeremy Newmark, leader of Hertsmere Borough Council, claims the investment will attract other high-tech businesses to the area. He argues that the data center will create a cluster effect that grows the local economy. Newmark dismissed the idea that the community must choose between greenbelt preservation and economic growth.

The technical needs of AI

Equinix chose the Potters Bar site because it sits near major population hubs and existing fiber optic networks. This proximity reduces latency, which is the delay in data transfer between the server and the end user. AI applications require extremely low latency to function effectively in real-time environments.

The site also offers access to robust power infrastructure. Data centers consume massive amounts of electricity to power servers and cooling systems. Equinix master planning head Andrew Higgins stated that the UK must build these facilities to remain a global player in the technology sector.

The company plans to lease space within the facility to various clients. Many of these clients will use the hardware to train large language models and other AI tools. This facility will be the first rural site for Equinix in the UK, as the company usually builds in industrial zones.

Locals fight the planning process

Residents claim the planning authority ignored 775 formal objections during the initial consultation. One resident, Simon Rhodes, went door-to-door to collect signatures against the project. The final count showed that objections outnumbered letters of support by a ratio of nearly two-to-one.

The protest group filed multiple appeals to overturn the council's decision. They sent letters to a third-party ombudsman and the UK’s Office of Environmental Protection. They also filed a formal complaint against council leader Jeremy Newmark, alleging he acted as a mouthpiece for the developer.

A standards committee eventually cleared Newmark of any wrongdoing. The council maintained that the planning process followed all legal requirements and was not rushed. Officials stated that every planning application is considered in isolation, which explains why the nearby housing project was rejected while the data center was approved.

Environmental mitigation and green space

Equinix promised to leave 50 percent of the 85-acre site as green space. The company plans to implement a biodiversity strategy to offset the environmental impact of the massive buildings. This plan includes the installation of wetlands, ponds, and meadows across the remaining acreage.

The developer intends to plant new trees to screen the industrial buildings from public footpaths. Andrew Higgins says the company wants to demonstrate a path to responsible development. He claims the new landscaping will actually increase the biodiversity of the site compared to its current state as farmland.

Protesters remain skeptical of these environmental promises. They argue that industrial structures will permanently destroy the character of the countryside. Janet Longley, a local resident, noted that while she uses the internet daily, she believes the facility belongs in an area that is already industrialized.

The future of the site

Equinix must still obtain permission for the specific details of its site plan before construction begins. This final stage allows the community another opportunity to file objections. The protest group plans to use this phase to delay the project as long as possible.

Under UK planning law, a developer must start construction within three years of receiving final approval. If the protest group successfully delays the process through legal challenges, the permission could expire. Experts at University College London suggest that well-organized pressure groups can effectively stall major infrastructure projects through this type of filibuster.

The battle over the Potters Bar site reflects a larger global trend. AI labs plan to spend trillions of dollars on infrastructure over the next decade. As these companies move out of cities and into rural areas, they will continue to face resistance from communities protective of their local landscapes.