A HUGE data centre powering AI and the digital economy could be built in Somerset if plans – set to be submitted in the coming months – are approved.

A ‘scoping opinion’ is being sought from Somerset Council by Lichfields, on behalf of Express Distribution Park, for a 250,000sqm Somerset Data Park development near junction 23 of the M5, near Bridgwater.

The building – described in planning documents as a “hyper-scale data centre” – would serve the growing demand for “facilities that store, and provide access to data and applications via cloud connectivity”, the plans said, and would be powered by 500MW already serving the site.

Though not a full planning application, the request for a scoping opinion is an early step in the process, assessing potential impacts of the development, on land west of Bath Road, Horsey – and how to deal with them.

“Digital technology is an integral part of day-to-day life, characterised by unprecedented connectivity and information exchange, and altering how people interact, work, learn and entertain,” the plans said.

“As the utilisation and reach of digital technology has increased, so too has the demand for data centres (i.e. facilities that store, and provide access to data and applications via cloud connectivity), such that they are now considered to represent essential infrastructure, especially in enabling business operations, supporting research and development (R&D), enhancing national security, data backup, disaster recovery and keeping people connected.”

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The documents said the scheme could support Somerset’s “increasingly dynamic economic that is transitioning to a digital economy and attracting businesses in increasingly varied sectors”.

“The proposed development at Somerset Data Park will contribute towards the achievement of these objectives”, the plans added.

A scoping opinion would help assess environmental and other impacts of the potential development – on a 130 hectare site across the M5 from the Morrisons distribution hub – and address them before full plans are submitted.

“The environmental assessment for each technical aspect will be conducted to consider effects during both the construction and operational periods of development,” the application added.

“Direct, indirect, secondary and cumulative effects will be assessed as appropriate.”

Bodies including the Environment Agency and Natural England have responded to the application, outlining surveys and assessments they would like to see, including on flooding, biodiversity and water resources.

Bridgwater Without Parish Council said it objected to the plan, citing reasons such as flood risk, ecological impact, the loss of agricultural land, energy and climate, and landscape and visual impact.

Data centres are becoming an issue around the world, as demands on power for IT systems – including AI – continue to grow.

Currently, the UK’s largest data centres are around 90MW, with a 1000MW site planned in Blythe, as well as a Google data centre in Hertfordshire, putting the proposed Somerset facility near the top of the list.

However, it could be some time before the site is operational, with detailed plans expected in the coming months before any decision is considered.

For more details on the scoping opinion, log on to somerset.gov.uk and search application reference 09/25/00024.

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