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In September 2024, a property developer applied for permission to build an industrial-scale data center in Potters Bar, UK, igniting local protests. Over 1,000 residents joined a Facebook group opposing the project, citing loss of green space and its impact on local well-being.

The local government granted planning permission in January 2025, and Equinix acquired the land in October 2025, with plans to start construction in 2026. The UK government has introduced a 'grey belt' classification, allowing development on certain green belt lands and designating data centers as critical infrastructure, facilitating new projects despite local resistance.