Bikers and wildlife groups try to block Google's planned Thurrock data centre east of London
A petition signed by almost 55,000 people was delivered to Google's King's Cross office; Google says the site plan prioritises biodiversity and lower emissions.
Why it matters
The Thurrock site, a former motorcycle stadium 15 miles east of London that Google bought in 2023, has drawn an unusual alliance: Buglife fears for an endangered plant and a rare bumblebee, Foxglove objects to pollution, and the Thurrock Hammers motorcycle club wants to race there again. WIRED reports anti-data-centre protests across Europe last week, including in Amsterdam at a Microsoft site, as the UK government courts AI compute investment. Watch the planning decision.
Key facts
- Petition signed by almost 55,000 people
- Site in Thurrock, 15 miles east of London
- Google acquired the site through a subsidiary in 2023
- Groups: Buglife, Foxglove, Thurrock Hammers motorcycle club
- Google: plan prioritises biodiversity and emissions cuts
- Protest held outside Google's King's Cross office