North Devon pushback grows over Xlinks AI campus

A proposed AI data campus in Great Torrington has triggered a major local campaign against industrial development in a protected landscape. Xlinks wants to build a 1.5GW AI datacentre and a 1.8GW battery energy storage system on about 344 hectares (850 acres) within a Unesco biosphere reserve. Plans include five large buildings ranging from 50 to 130 feet, with listed buildings relocated and reused as a visitor centre.

Residents and campaigners say freedom of information requests revealed closed discussions between Xlinks and Torridge district council since March 2025, including an in-principle support letter issued before environmental statements or public consultation. A detailed site plan disclosed through FoI showed the two largest buildings would measure 335 metres by 267 metres and cover approximately nine hectares (22 acres) each.

Opposition focuses on the protected location, farmland loss, water use, wastewater, Pfas, noise, air pollution and fire risks linked to the battery site. In the last few weeks 30,000 people nationally have signed a petition urging the government to pause datacentre and BESS plans outside designated AI growth zones. Xlinks says its £13.8bn project would create between 600 and 1,200 jobs, improve biodiversity by at least 10% and be designed sensitively for local people and the environment.