A group of 100 Leeds residents have formed an action group to oppose Microsoft’s construction of three Hyperscale AI Datacentre buildings in Stourton. The site is situated next to TCV’s Skelton Grange Environment Centre, just one mile from the largest sustainable development in the UK, Leeds’ Climate Innovation District.
South Leeds Life first reported on the plans two years ago; and when the hybrid application to redevelop the Skelton Grange site was submitted in November. The plans were unanimously approved by Leeds City Council in April 2026. At this time the planning portal only registered two objections and was left open, pending sign off by Leeds City Council’s Chief Planning Officer Martin Elliot. Since the No Leeds Datacentres campaign began to raise awareness last week, over 500 objections have been submitted to the planning portal and within three days over 2,000 people signed the petition.
Lianne Marie Mease, lead representative of the No Leeds Datacentres campaign says:
“A development which proposes such significant impacts to Leeds and the surrounding areas should have a proportional approach to community consultation. Putting up developer signs outside a power station which has been decommissioned since 1994 simply isn’t good enough.“
In addition to the lack of appropriate community consultation, the group is concerned that the planning decision reflects insufficient scrutiny of the project’s impacts on:
- water and power consumption
- noise, light and air pollution
- disposal of foulwater and waste heat
- surveillance and security changes
- climate change
Over 100 datacentre developments are currently seeking planning permission in the UK and at 65 acres, this project in Leeds will be one of the biggest. Global Action Plan is urging the government to place a moratorium on construction of any new datacentres and this is supported by the No Leeds Datacentres campaign which is empowering Leeds residents to encourage their local Councillors and MPs to sign the pledge.
Owen Espley, Campaign Manager at Global Action Plan says:
“The UK Government is letting Big Tech build more and more of its resource-hungry data centres up and down the country, contradicting community wishes and putting local people at risk of power cuts and droughts.
“Communities are fighting to have their concerns about AI data centres heard but are being drowned out by Big Tech lobbyists who hold the ear of government. The government must act urgently to put the brakes on AI data centre expansion by joining a growing number of global cities in declaring a moratorium on new AI data centres until ministers can produce a credible plan for how many we need, where and what for, and how environmental and social harm will be addressed.”
To find out more visit noleedsdatacentre.wordpress.com
This post is based on a press release issued by No Leeds Datacentres
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