Havering Friends of the Earth

Virtual Data Centre model

Don't be fooled by the heavily-greenwashed images that are still being used by news media to depict the proposed East Havering Data Centre. 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 over. 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.

To get an idea of how the major buildings might appear, as seen from ground level nearby, we've built a virtual 3D model. It is literally an "artist's impression of an artist's impression", and should not be assumed to be a realistic depiction of the site.

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.