25 February 2026
Residents raise concerns about public health, energy use, and environmental impact of data centres in the UK.
Full planning documents for the proposed data centre at 51 Bridle Road, Netherton, Liverpool are publicly available through Sefton Planning here.
Local residents are worried that its location in a densely populated community could have serious impacts on public health, energy use, and the environment.
For a community surrounding the site, Netherton could literally and figuratively take the heat as digital networks and connected technologies expand in the area. Continuous operations, high-capacity servers, and industrial cooling systems generate significant heat, energy demand, and environmental strain, and the development is situated in close proximity to homes and local businesses.
Energy and Climate Concerns
Planning drawings for the proposed Netherton data centre appear to show rows of chimneys and cooling radiators along the rooftops, designed to release the heat generated by the servers. Residents are concerned that this could represent wasted energy vented into the environment and the high and continuous energy demand of the facility could place additional strain on local electricity and water infrastructure.
Source/Image: Sefton Council Planning Documents
What the small print is really saying?
This drawing shows a conceptual plan for the Netherton Data Centre. It is for guidance only and illustrates approximate building sizes and locations. Dimensions are not accurate and must be verified on-site. Future-tech and the client accept no liability for any use beyond its intended purpose.
Question: Who is the client behind this development?
Public Health Concerns
Continuous exposure to electromagnetic fields, industrial emissions, and nearby digital infrastructure presents a potential public health risk. The long-term effects of combined exposures, particularly on children, older adults, and other vulnerable populations, have not been adequately studied. This data centre is a visible consequence of the growth in wireless technology, showing how increasing data needs require large facilities that have real-world impacts on communities.
Connection to Digital Networks
We are concerned that the proposed data centre is likely to support the growing digital infrastructure in Liverpool and Sefton, including the city’s largest 5G Stand Alone network at street level in Europe.
According to Liverpool 5G (https://liverpool5g.org.uk/), the network operates in the 4GHz and 60GHz spectrum and states that, when following ICNIRP guidelines, no negative health effects are likely for adults or children.
It is important to note that ICNIRP and the World Health Organization (WHO) have been heavily criticised by independent doctors and scientists, particularly regarding cumulative, long-term, and multi-source exposures.
Independent scientific evidence highlights concerns, including:
- ◆ Professor James C. Lin’s review of WHO RF systematic reviews identifies major methodological flaws, dismissals of thousands of studies on oxidative stress, and conflicts of interest (https://radiationresearch.org/an-exclusive-review-of-professor-james-c-lins-report-on-the-who-rf-systematic-reviews/)
- ◆ Evidence that RF radiation can contribute to oxidative stress, cancer, neurological disease, reproductive harm, and accelerated ageing
- ◆ The effects acknowledged even by ICNIRP, such as impacts on peripheral nerves, are often overlooked by councils in planning decisions
The expansion of high‑capacity network infrastructure is raising serious concerns among local residents about cumulative exposure, energy use, and impacts on the environment and community. Modern mobile base stations are estimated to use roughly the same power as seventy‑three homes,(viavisolutions.com) while data centres worldwide already consume about 1.5 % of global electricity, a figure projected to more than double by 2030.(energy.ec.europa.eu) Yet the council claims to be concerned about climate change, even as the proposed new data centre would place even greater energy demands on our system?
Community Voices and Action
On Saturday, residents joined together at a public outreach to raise awareness about the proposed data centre and its location in a densely populated community. Local residents also hand-delivered objection letters directly to Sefton Council, demonstrating that Netherton is not willing to take the heat without having their voices heard.
EM Radiation Research Trust Director Eileen O’Connor joined the residents. Watch the full video here: Netherton residents discuss the data centre Eileen O’Connor and Netherton residents discuss the data centre
Watch the video here: Residents hand-deliver objection letters to Sefton Council https://youtu.be/M7AGBkkWYmw?si=ULK9t4gI1_SbBk2d
Over 200 Residents Sign Letter
Letters signed by over 200 local residents, gathered in just a few hours during Saturday’s outreach, were hand delivered to Sefton Council on Monday. Produced by the Merseyside Residents Association, the letters set out serious concerns about public health, energy consumption, environmental impact and the lack of transparency surrounding the planning process.
Download the PDF of the residents’ objection letter here:
RRT Objection to Netherton Data Centre Planning Application
2nd live data centre application, Leckwith Road, Sefton, DC/2025/01974 https://youtu.be/zmdmBlNJ4Sw?si=C5KxaT2XT6UGf26-
Conclusion
The proposed data centre in Netherton raises serious questions about the impacts of high-capacity digital infrastructure on health, homes, and the local environment. Residents have come together to voice their concerns through public outreach, video statements, and hand-delivered objection letters. It is essential that Sefton Council carefully considers the views of the community and the potential risks before granting approval.
Residents are encouraged to review the planning documents, submit objections, and participate in consultations to ensure that decisions affecting the wellbeing of the community are made with full transparency and accountability.