A nine-year-old girl has become one of the leading voices opposing plans for what could become Europe’s largest data centre, proposed for 850 acres of Devon countryside.
Demelza May is campaigning against developer Xlinks’ plans to create an artificial intelligence campus just one mile from Great Torrington, a project that would be larger than the nearby town itself.
Together with her mother, 30-year-old Daisy Hiron-Snow, the schoolgirl has joined local residents who are “up in arms” over the £13billion development.
Demelza became determined to challenge the proposal after residents first learned about it through leaflets delivered to their homes in June.
According to Xlinks, the data centre campus, planned between Great Torrington, Huntshaw and Weare Gifford, could create between 650 and 1,200 jobs once completed and add £3.6billion to the UK economy.
The youngster, who lives with her family on a nearby farm, addressed Torridge District Council to explain her concerns about the potential impact of the scheme.
She warned that the huge development could damage the landscape, threaten local wildlife and place pressure on water supplies.
“I don’t want this, and I’m going to try to stop it with everything I’m doing,” she said.
Daisy Hiron-Snow, 30, and her nine-year-old daughter Demelza May are opposing plans for a data centre in Torrington
The Devon countryside that could be transformed by the proposed data centre campus
“It would take away a huge area of land and change our home forever. It makes me really sad because all the wildlife will be crushed — they won’t have a home.”
Demelza said she wanted the plans abandoned, adding: “It’s not right for the world. It’s not right for my future. It’s not right for everyone’s future.”
Her campaign began after Our News Outlet reported in July on proposals for the AI campus, which is believed to be the largest of its kind planned in Europe.
Residents have expressed fears that the development could “destroy” Great Torrington and the surrounding countryside.
More than 37,700 people have signed a petition opposing the proposed AI campus, which would include 1,720 battery storage units.
Daisy, a local business owner, said her research had convinced her that the impact of the data centre could be “catastrophic”.
“We believe it is probably the biggest data centre campus in the world, while the battery storage facility would rank among the 10 largest globally,” she said.
“I have been examining the possible effects this proposal could have on tourism and farming in the area.”
Demelza shared her concerns about the development at a Torridge District Council meeting on October 26
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An artist’s impression of how the proposed Devon data centre might appear when complete
“I always thought the proposal was bad, but the more I have researched it, the more I realise it could be catastrophic.”
Matt Whittaker, a former trustee of Torrington Town Hall, attended a public meeting on June 25, the day residents were told about the plans.
He told Our News Outlet: “We know this data centre cannot go here, but we are going to prove it.”
“Everyone is up in arms, but we are approaching this intelligently. We are driven by emotion, but we are not allowing our feelings to distract us. This would not simply affect the town — it is far bigger than that.”
The 59-year-old also questioned an AI-generated image released to illustrate the campus, saying it failed to show the true scale of the proposed site.
He added: “There are 112 containers in the image, but there would actually be more than 2,300 battery containers, located a mile and a half from a school, with a cooling system on the side of each one producing noise at 65 decibels. How can that be healthy?”
Xlinks said the image was an early render and “not reflective of either the site or the scheme”.
The company said the campus would help meet the UK’s growing demand for AI services while supporting a long-term commitment to clean energy.
The proposed data centre could cover up to 850 acres, just one mile from an idyllic Devon town
No formal planning application has yet been submitted. Any proposal that is brought forward will ultimately be considered by the council’s planning committee.
Xlinks currently has an option on up to 850 acres of land, although its present layout would occupy roughly one-third of that area.
The company said most of the wider site would be allocated to environmental initiatives and public open space, including woodland.
A Torridge District Council spokesperson said: “It was great to welcome Demelza to Torridge District Council’s Full Council Meeting on Monday, 26 October.”
“We know this issue has attracted significant interest locally, and it was impressive to see how confidently and passionately Demelza spoke.”
“It is encouraging to see someone so young engaging with democracy and understanding the importance of having the right to make their voice heard.”
“We believe this is important and strongly encourage people of all ages to share their views on local issues.”
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