Residents living next to new £790m Google data centre say it's 'ruined everything' | 1R2K7M5 | 2024-05-06 11:08:01
Google is building a new £790 million data centre in Hertfordshire, and the residents living next to it aren't happy.
They claim construction of the massive internet facility is incredibly noisy, and the site has ruined their view of what were previously fields.
Locals in Waltham Cross say the centre has knocked thousands off their house values and some even believe the work could be making them ill, reports the MailOnline.
The project has been dubbed the 'Silicon Valley of Hertfordshire' and received backing from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
He described the centre, which will power services such as Maps and Cloud and is the first major data centre in the UK, as a 'huge vote of confidence' for Britain.
But locals, who bought their homes when they were surrounded by green fields, say the building brings no benefits, only problems to the area.
Dionne Brown, 44, who lives 20 yards from the site, said it used to be an 'amazing' area to live in.
'That's why I moved six years ago. It was peaceful, you could hear the birds sing and it was lovely.
'The views were stunning and it was like being in the countryside. Now it's appalling.'
The property manager says she forced to keep her windows closed all day because of the 'constant noise'.
She also thinks she and her son have become ill as a result of the work, saying he has had a bad chesty cough for around four weeks.
Another man, who has lived opposite for the site for 70 years, said: 'I cannot stand it. I cannot have my windows open. It has ruined everything.'
The pensioner blamed globalisation and people caring too much about making profits and not enough about the local residents and their views.
Roger Sullivan, 44, said he is leaving the area because of the new data centre.
He believes the structure will 'ruin' house prices and there was little chance of locals being employed to work there, adding, 'It'll all be US tech geeks.'
Another local, Pamela Barnett, 61, said the project was 'hated locally' and would not benefit those living in the area.
Google bought the land in 2020 and hope to have the work complete next year.
A Google spokesperson told the Metro: 'Our $1 billion investment in Waltham Cross will help bring crucial compute capacity to the UK, supporting British businesses and people using Google services.
'We're committed to being active members of the community and partnering closely with local leaders to meaningfully contribute to their priorities.'
In February, residents in Corby, Northamptonshire, were shocked to learn they would be living next to a 60ft 'monster' building after council officials consulted the wrong street.
Homeowners woke up to see a huge metal frame of the industrial units being erected just feet away from their back doors.
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