Residents in County Durham are concerned they are being "led down the garden path" regarding proposals for a substantial data centre development. American developer Tract aims to construct Durham Technology Park on land between South Hetton, Murton and Easington Lane, potentially featuring up to seven principal data centre buildings, internal roads, parking facilities and an electricity substation linked to the National Grid at Hawthorn Pit.
Consultation Raises Resident Concerns
A consultation on the proposals, conducted on Friday (November 6) and Monday (November 9), heard concerns raised about noise levels, traffic impacts, water provision and the scale of the development. Tract maintains the proposals remain at an early stage and community feedback will assist in shaping the plans before formal submission to Durham County Council.
However, numerous residents who attended the consultation in South Hetton remained apprehensive. Ed Morrow, 68, explained his daughter exchanged contracts on a new-build property near the proposed location in July, before her family became aware of the data centre proposals.
He said: "My daughter's just bought a house that isn't built yet and it's right next to the planned data centre. We just seem to be in a situation where we can't do anything about it. We can't believe that it was just at the end of October that people began to find out."
Residents Question Power, Noise and Height
Gordon Jenkins, 75, who has resided in South Hetton for 14 years, characterised the consultation as a "sales pitch". He said: "The proposals, I'm not in favour of any of these." Mr Jenkins expressed concerns about the site's electricity consumption and potential noise pollution.
He added: "We're also told we don't have enough infrastructure for electricity, and yet these are going to start sapping massive amounts of electricity. They say they're not, but I don't believe that for a minute."
A Murton resident, who wished to remain anonymous, raised concerns about the height of the structures. They said: "It's going to be 30 metres, that's a canny height and if they're saying they're going to dig the ground out we're still going to see it." The resident also voiced worries about water supplies following a major house fire in the village which left homes without water for several hours.
Another resident expressed anxiety about the road leading to the development and the impact of additional junctions. They said: "It's an old country road. It's 60 miles an hour. And when the nights are like this, it's dark and you can't see anybody. If they're putting multiple more junctions in, it's only going to get worse."
Community Voices and Developer Response
Local businessman Lee Blenkinsop, 58, suggested the development might bring benefits if sufficient jobs were created, but added: "I'm not sure about the pollution and where the power's coming from." Philip Dowell, 70, said residents also sought clarity about noise levels.
He said: "We don't know what noise levels it's going to give off there. We've been here before. We've been led down the garden path before. They promise to do this and do that. It's the people I feel for. They're going to live with this big massive monument of digital expertise."
The East Durham Action Group also voiced concerns about the proposals, arguing the data centre should be assessed alongside other major energy developments across the region. The group said: "The central issue is cumulative impact," adding that the effects of developments on the countryside, farmland, the environment and local communities should be examined collectively rather than in isolation.
Tract intends to collaborate with local education institutions and employment agencies on training and recruitment schemes, with opportunities spanning from apprenticeships to degree-qualified roles. A Tract spokesperson said: "The first step in responsibly developing a project is to partner and engage with the people who live in the host community to hear and understand their priorities and concerns, and we appreciate everyone who joined us this evening to do just that."
"Durham Technology Park is at an early design stage, and what we heard tonight will help inform the proposals alongside the technical and environmental assessments required through the planning process. We recognise that a development of this scale raises important questions, including water, power, traffic, landscape, ecology, noise, and local opportunities. Our aim is to plan responsibly and ensure Murton, South Hetton and the wider East Durham area can share in the opportunities of the digital economy."
