Havering Friends of the Earth

Welcome to our little corner of the web!
We are a growing group of Havering folk, who share a passion for the environment – and want to work together to preserve and enhance it. Our next General Meeting dates are:

28 April 2026, 7.30pm Fairkytes Arts Centre (Art Room, ground floor)
26 May 2026, 7.30pm Fairkytes Arts Centre

Please check this page for any last-minute changes! There's more information about our meetings, and how to find us, on the About page. You can also visit our Facebook group for topical news and discussion.

East Havering Data Centre consultation extended to 12 April

[Say NO to a colossal data centre in Havering's
countryside]

Havering Council's pitifully short public consultation on the draft Local Development Order, to build the largest data centre in Europe on 470 acres of Green Belt farmland, has been extended – but only by a few days. If you haven't yet done so, you now have until Sunday 12 April to make your feelings known by completing the form at Havering Council's website, which has links to all the supporting documents. You might also like to visit the No to East Havering Data Centre site, run by concerned North Ockendon residents.

Construction of the data centre would entail 10 years of heavy traffic, noise and disruption, and the resulting complex of 3-storey, warehouse-sized buildings would consume several hundred thousand kilowatts of power, most of which would end up as heat. We fear there could be both electricity and water shortages in the area as a result of the data centre's demands on these resources.

HFoE Chair and co-founder Rosina Purnell writes: “There must be hundreds of brownfield sites across London which could accommodate this monstrosity. Why is our council going along with this destruction of a beautiful open space?”.

Read Rosina's article

HFoE Co-ordinator Ian Pirie has written a comprehensive review of wildlife and biodiversity on and around the affected site.

Read Ian's article

Read our campaign summary

Submit your comments to LBH

Is this what they want to plonk on our Green Belt?

[Simulated before-and-after views from Fen Lane]

We've built a virtual 3D model of the proposed development, based on the limited "artist's impression" sketches that we've seen. It's not been easy, because recent promotions have shown a very different layout and style of building compared to the earlier ones.

The first of our before-and-after comparisons is based on a view from Fen Lane, near the turning into the Top Meadow Golf Club. The building in the foreground, enclosed by patterned screens intended to soften its appearance, is one of eight "small" ones, each rated (we think) at 25 megawatts. Elsewhere on the site are a further eight buildings of around twice the size, each presumably consuming 50 megawatts.

View HD version

Don't be misled by the heavily-greenwashed images that are still being used by news media to depict the site. It's convenient for the promoters to show an aerial view looking west from above their self-styled "ecology park", with everything tinted bright green and birds flying overhead. Or an incredibly wide-angle image of a man and child strolling along a country footpath, with hangar-sized buildings barely noticeable in the distance. Or a drone shot looking down on an innocuous collection of white rectangles resembling (appropriately?) dual-inline components on a printed-circuit board.

In reality, from ground level around North Ockendon, we think your view will be dominated by an industrial complex of enormous buildings, in place of what used to be an open vista of fields and hedgerows.

[Simulated before-and-after views from Jury Hill]

The second comparison is based on part of a panoramic photo, looking south from Jury Hill in Thorndon Park. The Dartford Crossing can be seen in the distance. No amount of camouflage can disguise the blot that this development would create on an otherwise unspoilt rural landscape.

View HD version

Finally, we've made a short video to give an impression of the scale of the development, by simulating a drive through the site.

Watch the video

Disclaimer: Only the major data centre buildings are modelled, and they are set on level plinths with no additional landscaping. We understand that the roof height would be 21m above the finished floor level, with rooftop plant and exhaust flues extending the overall height by up to 5m. These numbers have been used to scale the model buildings. All simulations are based in good faith on the artists' impressions seen by us, and are subject to revision if and when more information becomes available.

More trees please

At a ceremony on 20 January, contractors for Network Rail began planting new trees at Emerson Park station on the London Overground Liberty Line. This marks a positive outcome for local residents and campaigners, who were angered by the removal of much trackside greenery between 2022 and 2025.

[Teasel stem with ladybird against clear blue sky]

Havering Council has published an updated Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) for 2025-30, to replace the previous version dated 2018-23. As part of their consultation process, we've submitted a detailed response.

Read our response

In the Press

Since December 2021, HFoE members have contributed to a regular community column in the Romford Recorder newspaper. An archive of our articles is also available on this website.

Browse articles

In Brief

ULEZ-vous?

The extension of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) to include outer London boroughs has proved divisive, to say the least. Even within HFoE there are differences of opinion, but it's fair to say we're united in wanting to breathe cleaner air.

We took a close look at the Council's 2021 Climate Action Plan. Despite encouraging noises from them in the press (including some kind words about our local group), we feel that their plan should put more emphasis on preventing climate change, rather than just adapting to it. As with previous issues such as air pollution, we need to move forward beyond monitoring and measuring (the easy bits!) toward actively planning, budgeting for, and implementing changes to reduce our Borough's carbon footprint.

Together with other environmental groups, we've been putting pressure on Havering Council and its contractor to stop routinely spraying Glyphosate-based weedkiller on roadsides and pavements. We believe this chemical, which is thought to cause cancer, poses a risk to both people and wildlife. This started a wider debate about alternative methods to control weeds, and whether in some cases it would be better to accept and enjoy a natural carpet of attractive and beneficial wildflowers.

In Memoriam

We've arranged, via the Woodland Trust, for five trees to be dedicated in memory of HFoE member Jill Luff, who passed away in December 2023.

Jill believed passionately in the importance of trees, green spaces and clean air for our spiritual wellbeing, as well as the health of the planet. She gave several talks about the vital role of bees and other pollinators, and wrote movingly about the calming benefits of connecting with nature. Her bright smile, warm spirit and positivity are greatly missed at our meetings and events, and above all by her husband, HFoE co-ordinator Ian Pirie.