The residents of a retirement village are up in arms over plans to construct an 18-metre-tall data centre that they say would disrupt their sleep and cause them mental strain.

The proposal is an extension to the existing Spring Park data centre campus in the small village of Neston, that would see the ultra-secure facility branch out onto the field south of Westwells Road.

A group of residents from Wadswick Green retirement village have described the plans as “very disturbing” and causing “quite a lot of distress”.

According to the application, the data centres within Ark’s Spring Park Campus are used “to house critical computer systems and associated communications infrastructure crucial for the knowledge economy”.

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They are concerned about the impact on their health.They are concerned about the impact on their health. (Image: Victor Steadman)

A previous extension was recently approved on adjacent land, which generated opposition from a handful of Neston residents.

This latest application has caused far more controversy, with more than 200 comments of objection left on the application.

The application describes the building as a high-quality development using quality materials expressed in a functional and elegant design that will enhance Ark’s established data centre campus.The application describes the building as a high-quality development using quality materials expressed in a functional and elegant design that will enhance Ark’s established data centre campus. (Image: Ark/Hale)

 Victor Steadman, 67, reports that over 100 of these are from residents of Wadswick Green.

He has lived in the retirement village for nine years and disclosed that a low-frequency hum can already be heard by some of his neighbours.

This issue has also been reported to this paper by individuals living in Westwells, who described a “droning sound at night coming from the generators”.

Mr Steadman said: “Older people have problems enough sleeping anyway, put bright light and this low frequency noise problem there, their sleep patterns are going to be disturbed.

“Sleep patterns being disturbed is going to have an effect on mental and physical health.”

He added: “People have moved here in expectation of a quiet retirement.”

According to Mr Steadman, the glow from the existing site is like “looking on an airport terminal”.

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He added that the “industrial design” was unsuitable for a rural residential area.

The Wadswick Green groups claims the retirement village was not consulted on the extension and was “shocked” by the “huge” size of it.

Concerns were also raised about the impact on wildlife, flooding, and the access road used by “elderly and vulnerable” people.

The application submitted by Ark stated: “The proposed development will be implemented in line with Ark’s sustainability requirements.

“The scheme will be integrated within the surrounding context through the provisioning of contextually appropriate design and land use.

“The proposed development will also minimise the impact on the local road networks and the wider environment.”

The noise impact assessment concluded that the plant operation is expected to produce noise “below typical background levels in the area”.

Cllr Nick Botterill, cabinet member for development control and strategic planning, said "The general approach that we take for applications of a scale similar to that of PL/2023/10233, is to send letters to direct neighbours to advise of the application and to erect a notice at the proposed site.”

Ark Data Centres has also been approached for further comment.