Green Belt at Risk: Community challenges East Havering data centre

 

ELF is currently supporting the North Ockendon Residents Against East Havering Data Centre (NORA) in their opposition to a massive proposed development on Metropolitan Green Belt land. The project, spearheaded by developer Reef Origin in partnership with the London Borough of Havering, aims to create what was originally dubbed to be “Europe’s largest data centre,” spanning up to 400,000 square metres, and requiring a budget on a similar financial scale to the London 2012 Olympics. 

North Ockendon holds a unique status as the only village in London situated outside the M25. It is an ancient parish characterized by its quiet, rural nature—all of which is now threatened by a construction project of unprecedented scale. Beyond the loss of green belt land, the community has raised serious concerns regarding environmental impact due to potential damage to the Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) and severe water abstraction affecting the River Mardyke and heritage risks, due to the site being located near the North Ockendon Conservation Area and 25 listed buildings, including the Grade I listed Church of St Mary Magdalane. 

Despite the scale and potential for impact, there have been several concerns raised with the procedure thus far. Instead of seeking allocation of the data centre in the Local Plan and then pursuing planning permission, The Council is pursuing this proposal through a Local Development Order or ‘LDO’. This is a process usually reserved for minor works and has previously only been used by the Council to place tables and chairs outside a cafe in the Town Centre. This route bypasses the traditional planning application process, limiting public scrutiny and preventing the proposal from being scrutinised to the extent typical for developments of this size.  

Despite the Aarhus Convention’s requirements for public participation in environmental decisions, there has been no formal public pre-consultation. Extensive works—including drilling and the laying of hardstanding—commenced on-site between November 2024 and March 2025 without the Planning Authority’s prior knowledge.  

The proposal is now being consulted on, and the community has only been given a month to respond to this enormous development. ELF will be assisting in scrutinising the data centre proposal, and advocating for the voice of a community to be heard in a process stacked against them.