Decision due on plans for £250m data centre

Plans for a £250m data centre on former Ministry of Defence (MoD) land are recommended for approval.

Ark Data Centres wants to build the facility on an 18-acre site known locally as the Donkey Field, near Corsham - with the plans set to be discussed at Wiltshire Council's strategic planning committee next week.

Some residents have formed Neston Westwells Action Group to oppose the plans, and nearly 1,100 objections have been sent to the council.

An Ark spokesman said the firm had "taken great care to minimise the impact" on its neighbours. They said the development would create almost 100 new jobs and boost the local economy by £98m.

The proposed building, which would become the sixth on the company's Spring Park campus, would be 18.7m tall (61ft) at its highest point and approximately 180m (150ft) long.

Residents' concerns include potential noise pollution from the giant cooling fans and the visual impact of the facility, which at its closest point would be less than 50m (164ft) from the nearest house.

Additional objections have been raised about the potentially enhanced flood risk and the environmental impact of the facility, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

However, the company said rain will either be harvested and used in cooling the data centre, or will infiltrate through the ground into on-site ponds or soakaways.

The council's planning officers have recommended councillors grant planning consent.

In a statement, Ark said the investment would create 87 new jobs.

Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.