Fears over plan for 'massive' data centre near village

A plan for a "massive" data centre close to a small village could claim a large area of land on the edge of the Cheshire countryside.

The scheme, which is earmarked for a space close to Little Bollington near Lymm has been put forward by a company called Innova.

Residents have been receiving leaflets about the bid in recent weeks, and some have told the BBC they are "extremely worried" about the potential impact on their homes, businesses and wildlife.

The company has been approached for comment.

Data centres are typically large warehouses that store servers that process and distribute information online and the artificial intelligence boom has coincided with a significant increase in the number of proposals to build them.

But the Little Bollington plans – which have not been submitted for planning permission yet – are facing some opposition.

Janice Taylor, who runs Ash Farm bed and breakfast, said: "It's massive. The light pollution, the noise pollution, it would definitely affect our business. People come here for peace and quiet."

Former parish clerk Mike Reed, who is helping to organise local opposition to the plan, said residents' initial reaction had been "shock, total shock".

"We've had development plans before, but this is like something off another planet," he said.

Reed said residents were concerned that rural land could be lost.

He also raised concerns about flood risk, particularly because some nearby cottages had experienced flooding in the past.

Reed pointed to severe flooding on New Year's Day last year, when two households were evacuated and damage was caused to the nearby Bridgewater Canal.

"You cannot load another huge development into an area that's subject to flooding like that," he said.

The proposed Spodegreen Data Centre campus would be built on land close to the M56. Innova, which is behind a number of similar schemes around England, has indicated construction would start within three to five years if planning permission was granted by Cheshire East Council.

The leaflet Innova has been sending to people in the area ahead of a consultation meeting in Knutsford later said it would house computer systems and digital infrastructure, would improve local connectivity, and create jobs.

The land identified for the centre is owned by the Tatton Estate, which has granted Innova an option to develop the proposals.

Its chief executive, Pete Crowther, said the company believed "the North West needs this infrastructure".

He added: "The proposals could also bring skilled jobs, training and opportunities for local businesses in Cheshire East and Trafford, alongside new woodland and habitats."

But he said the firm "understands why people who live and work nearby, including those whose livelihoods depend on the rural economy, have concerns about a development of this scale".

"Their views matter and we encourage them to take part in Innova's consultation so they can be considered as the plans develop," he said.

Ahead of the consultation event, about 40 residents attended a community meeting to discuss the plans.

Reed said the mood had been "calm and sensible", with people keen to understand the proposals and discuss how to oppose them.

He said a working group had been formed to coordinate local opposition to the scheme.

The National Trust, which manages the nearby Dunham Massey estate, said it would be "reviewing any plans submitted for potential impact on nature and wildlife in the area".

There are currently three other significant data centre plans going through planning processes in the Greater Manchester area, including in Newton Heath, Trafford Park and Carrington. None of them is connected to Innova.

Across the UK, more than 80 data centre plans were submitted to councils between 2023 and 2025, according to industry publications.

Innova told the BBC it would not be able to respond by the time of publication.

Read more stories from Cheshire on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC North West on X. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.