Controversial plans for a massive data centre in Abbots Langley have been recommended for refusal.

According to the agenda for Three Rivers District Council’s planning committee meeting at 7.30pm today (January 18), it is due to consider whether an outline application for the project in Bedmond Road, next to the M25, is acceptable.

The council officers report, provided to the committee ahead of the meeting, says that the recommendation is for outline planning permission to be refused.

Three reasons are given, one of which was it falling within green belt without being judged to meet the “very special circumstances” required to do so.

The report added that it would also fail to protect the natural environment due to its huge size. It claimed the development would "result in significant demonstrable harm to the character and appearance of the area and the natural environment".

Watford Observer: CGI of how the data centre would look.CGI of how the data centre would look. (Image: Pegasus Group/Greystoke Land/Three Rivers District Council)

Officers also felt financial contribution towards improving walking and cycling routes in the area should be required of the developer, which was not formally committed to.

The proposed data centre would span the area of 12 football pitches and would involve an investment of around £1 billion.

According to the applicant, such data centres are to be necessary for the UK to address the requirements of the rise of AI and machine learning. They also need to be within a certain area of each other as different sites have "parent-child" relationships in terms of how they interact, meaning the possible locations are very restricted.

Watford Observer: The site and country park area.The site and country park area. (Image: Greystoke Land)

There are apparently “no effective alternatives to hyperscale data centres to meet the need within the UK” and “this development cannot be serviced or addressed in alternative locations” because of the need to balance it with other centres.

An additional community benefit packaged with the proposal is a landscaped country park in adjacent land, which is currently private but would be made accessible to walkers.

Although the officers can make a recommendation, the ultimate decision is down to the committee.