Two proposed hyperscale data centres in Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire are drawing criticism because their plans include on-site gas power stations. Local councillors call the approach insane, while campaign group Foxglove estimates combined emissions could reach 4.5 million tonnes a year if the plants run at full capacity. That is roughly three times Luton Airport's annual emissions. Both projects have been designated nationally significant infrastructure, meaning the government rather than local councils will decide their fate. Developers say gas provides resilience and avoids heavy demand on the National Grid, and they plan to connect once grid capacity is available. The government defends data centres as critical infrastructure and argues rejecting them would send investment abroad. It also points to research that AI-related carbon savings could outweigh data centre emissions, though campaigners and councillors question whether that justifies new gas capacity. The story matters for anyone watching UK climate policy and grid decarbonisation. It shows how fast data centre demand is colliding with connection timelines, and how planning rules can limit local oversight. The final power strategies are still in flux, so the emissions outcome depends on whether developers actually choose renewables, storage, or grid power over gas.
