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Londoners fight plan for Brick Lane datacentre over housing crisis

Residents and campaigners in east London are opposing plans for a datacentre on Brick Lane, arguing it will worsen the area's housing crisis and displace long-term residents. The site, known for its curry houses and bagel shops, is the latest flashpoint in the UK's rapid datacentre rollout driven by AI demand.

0 engagement·1 source·Tue, Jul 7, 2026, 02:00 PM
Campaigners in east London are opposing plans for a datacentre on Brick Lane, a street famous for its curry houses and 24-hour bagel shops. They argue that creating affordable housing is more urgent than accommodating 'high-frequency trading' in the nearby City of London. The opposition highlights tensions between the rapid rollout of datacentres across the UK—driven by demand from artificial intelligence—and local housing needs. Residents fear the development will worsen the housing crisis and drive long-term residents away.

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