60 New London Data Centres: 2050 Emissions Warning

Key Points

• A planned proliferation of around 50 to 60 data centres out of approximately 100 in the planning pipeline is scheduled to be built in London.
• These data centres, which house IT infrastructure such as servers, could “undermine” London’s decarbonisation goals, according to testimony at the London Assembly.
• Every 10 new data centres could result in 2.7 million tonnes of carbon emissions, raising fears that construction could subvert the Mayor of London’s climate goals.
• Havering, Tower Hamlets, Newham, and Brent boroughs will face the most “pressure” from new data centres, with specific fears over water issues.
• Oliver Hayes, Head of Policy & Campaigns at Global Action Plan, stated that the developments are “definitely undermining the process we’ve been making.”
• By 2050, data centres alone are estimated to use a quarter of the UK’s entire electricity consumption as recorded last year.
• Just 10 of the proposed data centres would generate carbon emissions equivalent to the amount saved from a complete switch to electric vehicles across the UK.

Tower Hamlets (East London Times) February 5, 2026 – A rapid surge in planned data centres across London, with 50 to 60 of around 100 in the pipeline set for construction in the capital, has sparked dire warnings of “devastating consequences” for the environment. Experts told the London Assembly Environment Committee that these facilities could undermine the city’s decarbonisation efforts and place immense pressure on boroughs like Havering, Tower Hamlets, Newham, and Brent, particularly regarding water resources. Oliver Hayes, Head of Policy & Campaigns at Global Action Plan, highlighted that every 10 new data centres could emit 2.7 million tonnes of carbon, equivalent to savings lost from a full switch to electric vehicles.

What Are the Environmental Impacts of London’s New Data Centres?

The testimony before the London Assembly Environment Committee on Tuesday, February 3, revealed profound environmental concerns tied to the data centre boom. As reported by MyLondon News, Oliver Hayes warned that the construction of these facilities housing IT infrastructure like servers would generate massive carbon emissions. Specifically, he estimated that every 10 new data centres could result in 2.7 million tonnes of carbon emissions, a figure that prompted fears of subverting the Mayor of London’s climate goals.

“This is definitely undermining the process we’ve been making,” Oliver Hayes, Head of Policy & Campaigns at Global Action Plan, told the London Assembly Environment Committee on Tuesday (February 3), as detailed in the MyLondon News coverage. Hayes further projected that by 2050, data centres alone would consume a quarter of the UK’s entire electricity consumption as of last year, underscoring the scale of the energy demand.

The concerns extend beyond carbon to water scarcity, with Havering, Tower Hamlets, Newham, and Brent identified as boroughs under the most “pressure.” The London Assembly has heard that these areas will bear the brunt, with fears over water issues amplifying the “devastating consequences” warned about in the MyLondon News headline.

Which Boroughs Face the Most Pressure from Data Centres?

Havering, Tower Hamlets, Newham, and Brent have been pinpointed as the London boroughs facing the greatest strain from the influx of new data centres. According to the London Assembly discussions reported by MyLondon News, these areas are set to experience heightened pressure due to the concentration of planned developments.

The testimony highlighted how the geographical focus could exacerbate local resource challenges. Water issues were a recurring theme, with experts cautioning that the demands of cooling and operating these facilities could overwhelm infrastructure in these densely populated outer London boroughs.

No specific quotes from borough representatives were provided in the initial coverage, but the collective alarm raised at the Assembly underscores a unified concern across these regions, as per the MyLondon News article.

How Do Data Centres Threaten London’s Decarbonisation Goals?

The planned data centres risk derailing London’s progress towards net-zero emissions, with direct testimony linking their build-out to stalled climate action. MyLondon News reported that the proliferation could “undermine” the capital’s decarbonisation goals, a point echoed by Oliver Hayes during his appearance before the London Assembly Environment Committee.

Hayes elaborated that the carbon footprint of just 10 proposed data centres matches the emissions savings from electrifying the entire national vehicle fleet. This equivalence illustrates the setback: “just 10 of the proposed data centres would generate carbon emissions equivalent to the amount saved from a complete switch to electric vehicles,” as stated in the MyLondon coverage.

Such developments clash with the Mayor of London’s climate ambitions, potentially subverting years of policy efforts. The Assembly hearing on February 3 brought these tensions to light, positioning data centres as a paradoxical hurdle in the green transition.

What Is the Projected Electricity Demand by 2050?

A stark 2050 warning dominated the London Assembly discussion, with data centres forecasted to dominate the UK’s power grid. Oliver Hayes estimated that these facilities would account for a quarter of the UK’s total electricity consumption from last year, a projection shared via MyLondon News.

This figure alone signals a transformative shift in energy priorities, as data centres—essential for cloud computing, AI, and digital services—scale up amid booming tech demands. Hayes’ intervention on February 3 framed this as an unsustainable trajectory without intervention.

The implication is clear: without curbs, London’s data centre growth could redefine national energy policy, sidelining other sectors and straining renewable expansion plans.

Why Are 50 to 60 Data Centres Planned for London?

Of the approximately 100 data centres in the current planning pipeline, 50 to 60 are earmarked for London, fuelling the controversy. MyLondon News detailed this concentration, noting the capital’s appeal due to its connectivity, fibre networks, and proximity to financial hubs.

The pipeline reflects global trends in hyperscale data needs, driven by tech giants and AI proliferation. However, the Assembly hearing exposed the local fallout, with Hayes criticising the pace as reckless given environmental trade-offs.

Cross-references in the MyLondon reporting, such as links to West London proposals, suggest a city-wide spread, but outer boroughs bear disproportionate impacts.

Who Raised These Warnings at the London Assembly?

Oliver Hayes, Head of Policy & Campaigns at Global Action Plan, was the key voice at the London Assembly Environment Committee on February 3. As reported extensively by MyLondon News, Hayes delivered the critical estimates on emissions, electricity, and decarbonisation risks.

His statements provided the evidentiary backbone: “This is definitely undermining the process we’ve been making,” he asserted, linking data centres directly to reversed climate gains. No other speakers were named in the coverage, but Hayes’ expertise positioned Global Action Plan as a leading critic.

The neutral platform of the Assembly amplified these points, inviting scrutiny from policymakers and the public.

What Carbon Emissions Link Data Centres to Electric Vehicles?

A pivotal comparison emerged: the emissions from 10 data centres equate to the savings from a nationwide electric vehicle transition. MyLondon News quoted this from Oliver Hayes, illustrating the hypocrisy of green tech enabling dirty infrastructure.

This 2.7 million tonnes per 10 centres metric, drawn from Hayes’ testimony, quantifies the hypocrisy. It positions data centres as emitters on par with transport decarbonisation wins, a irony not lost on Assembly members.

Such analogies make abstract climate math tangible, bolstering calls for planning reforms.

Are There Broader UK Implications Beyond London?

While London-centric, the warnings carry national weight, given the 2050 electricity forecast for the entire UK. Hayes’ projection—a quarter of last year’s consumption—signals a UK-wide power crunch, as per MyLondon News.

Outer borough pressures hint at uneven burdens, but electricity demands transcend borders via the grid. The Mayor’s goals, if thwarted, ripple to national targets under the Climate Change Act.

No divergent sources contradicted this, aligning on the existential scale.

What Happens Next After the London Assembly Hearing?

The February 3 hearing marks a pivotal moment, but outcomes remain pending. MyLondon News coverage stopped short of next steps, focusing on testimonies like Hayes’.

Expect scrutiny of planning permissions, potential moratoriums, or efficiency mandates for data centres. Boroughs like Tower Hamlets may lobby harder on water, escalating to Sadiq Khan’s office.

The “devastating consequences” framing demands action, yet tech lobby counterarguments loom unspoken in the report.