24,000 Sign Against 450MW AI Data Centre in Wales

Why is the Wales AI data centre so controversial?

The 450MW AI data centre planned for 40 hectares of the old Ferodo factory site in Caernarfon faces intense opposition over environmental impact and unclear local benefit. The development would cover an area the size of 57 football pitches on the Menai Strait shoreline.

Developer Canolfan Ddata Mena submitted its planning application in late 2025 for land at Griffith's Crossing. The company says the project would create 200 permanent jobs plus hundreds of temporary construction roles, run partly on local renewable energy, and include ecological improvement measures.

Opponents argue the scheme delivers no concrete, lasting benefit to local people. Around 300 people joined a protest at Y Maes in Caernarfon, while the online petition has passed 24,000 signatures.

Plaid Cymru MP Liz Saville Roberts told the protest that the scale of the project is "staggering". She said Wales should learn from extractive industries that damaged the environment without benefiting host communities. Tech companies' handling of data centre rollouts is a wider talking point, as covered in our report on Apple HomeView preorders and the smart home hub push.

• Site area: 40 hectares, equal to 57 football pitches
• Power capacity: 450MW, partly supplied by local renewables
• Promised jobs: 200 permanent roles plus hundreds of temporary construction jobs
• Opposition: more than 24,000 petition signatures and a 300-person protest
• Site status: derelict since 2008, with asbestos contamination present

Why does the old Ferodo factory site carry environmental risk?

The Ferodo factory has stood idle since its permanent closure in 2008, and some buildings contain asbestos insulation. The developer's plan requires demolishing all existing structures, raising concerns that asbestos fibres could be released during clearance work.

Ferodo once manufactured asbestos-based brake linings at the site, and asbestos insulation is understood to remain in some buildings. Canolfan Ddata Mena says all work will follow Hazardous Waste Regulations and that contaminated material will be disposed of at a licensed facility in northern England.

The land has been considered for other projects before. A prison proposal was dropped in favour of alternative sites, and a proposed holiday park was refused after environmental and local planning objections. That history has made the area more sensitive to large-scale development.

AI-driven projects have also produced unexpected consequences elsewhere, as we reported when an AI agent wiped an entire Swedish TV season and pushed the show to 2027.

Who supports the data centre and who opposes it?

Developer Canolfan Ddata Mena and some local stakeholders say the project would revive the economy and create jobs. Opponents cite environmental damage, asbestos risk and a lack of tangible local benefit. Opinion in Caernarfon is sharply divided.

Supporters point to 200 permanent positions, temporary construction work, and partnerships with local education providers that could create training and apprenticeship routes. They also present the partial use of local renewable energy as a way to limit the site's carbon footprint.

Critics highlight the strain a 450MW load would place on the local grid, the public health risk of asbestos removal, and the potential for lasting environmental damage. MP Liz Saville Roberts said projects of this scale require the highest level of public scrutiny and participation.

The planning application is still under consideration, so none of these outcomes is settled. Figures such as job numbers and capacity come from the developer's own proposals rather than approved conditions.

How have similar data centre projects in Wales ended?

Large-scale developments proposed in the area have often been cancelled or refused after environmental and local objections. A prison project was redirected to other sites and a holiday park failed to win planning permission, suggesting the Caernarfon data centre could meet a similar fate.

Redeveloping post-industrial land in Wales frequently becomes a flashpoint. Communities are wary of projects that historically caused environmental damage without delivering economic returns, a point echoed in the MP's reference to extractive industries.

Analysts note that data centres are energy-intensive and can have long-term effects on local infrastructure and the environment. Even with partial renewable power, opponents are calling for an independent environmental impact assessment and more public consultation.

Environmental risk in technology infrastructure also overlaps with security and data governance questions, as seen in our coverage of the Denmark CPR registry breach carried out with the password '123456'.

Bottom line

The 450MW AI data centre proposed for Caernarfon faces opposition from more than 24,000 petition signatories. It promises 200 permanent jobs, but asbestos risk, grid load and local benefit remain unresolved. As similar projects are planned in Turkey and elsewhere, transparency and genuine community involvement will decide which ones survive planning.