At Durata, we believe in open and honest discussions around the data centre industry. CityAM opened a debate on plans to build a new data centre in Brick Lane and our Group CEO, John McGee, shared his thoughts. Below, you can read his contribution in full.
YES: There’s a tendency to treat data centres as something that should be built somewhere else.
Should we build a data centre on Brick Lane? If the site is suitable, then yes.
The debate around the Truman Brewery proposal reflects a broader challenge facing the UK. Everyone wants the benefits of a digital economy, but far fewer people are willing to support the infrastructure that makes it possible.
Data centres are no longer niche facilities tucked away on industrial estates, in fact many will be unaware there are existing data centres already on this site. They underpin everything from AI and cloud computing to banking, healthcare and public services. If the UK is serious about remaining competitive in a rapidly changing global economy, we need to recognise digital infrastructure as essential infrastructure.
That does not mean developments should be approved regardless of local concerns. Planning decisions should always consider the character of an area, environmental impacts and community views. Those are legitimate factors in any proposal.
What concerns me is the growing tendency to treat data centres as something that should be built somewhere else. The reality is that every part of the country benefits from digital services, and every part of the country has a role to play in supporting the infrastructure behind them.
The Truman Brewery site has a long industrial history and has evolved many times over the years. Cities remain successful because they adapt to changing economic needs rather than preserving every site exactly as it was.
The question should not be whether we need more data centres. Demand for digital infrastructure is growing rapidly and will continue to do so. The question is whether a particular site can accommodate one responsibly and deliver wider economic value.
Read the full debate
The full debate with opposing arguments can be read on CityAM website’s here. https://www.cityam.com/the-debate-should-we-build-a-data-centre-on-brick-lane/
