A wildlife trust has raised concerns that plans to build a new data centre could threaten the habitat of one of Britain’s most endangered plants and a rare species of bumblebee. The proposed Google data centre is set to be constructed at the Arena Essex Raceway in Thurrock, a site designated as a local wildlife area. This area is home to the rare broad-leaved cudweed, a plant found in only a few places in the UK, and the shrill carder bumblebee, which is found in just two areas in England. The Essex Wildlife Trust has expressed concern that the construction could destroy these “incredibly rare” habitats. Data centres are large facilities filled with powerful computers that support digital services such as streaming movies, online banking, and artificial intelligence. With 568 data centres already in the UK, the rapid expansion of these facilities has raised environmental concerns. Emily Buttress from the Essex Wildlife Trust said her team is worried about the high water and energy demands of such projects, the potential warming effect on the surrounding land, and the lack of long-term research on their environmental impact. She emphasized that while the trust supports development, it must be done sustainably, especially in a region already facing water shortages. The Arena Essex Raceway, which previously hosted speedway events, has been purchased by Global Infrastructure UK Limited for £47 million. The company submitted plans for the data centre on behalf of Google last year. In the planning application, the consultancy firm Mallory Land Ltd stated that the proposals had considered the local ecology. The company noted that the demand for data centres has grown rapidly due to the expansion of digital services, artificial intelligence, and smart infrastructure. Google, in turn, emphasized that data centres are vital to the UK economy and online services and that it shares the concerns of the Essex Wildlife Trust and Buglife about ensuring sustainable development. The site is home to a rich variety of wildlife, including 687 invertebrate and 439 plant species. Among them are the dingy skipper, a small moth-like butterfly, and the nightingale bird, which are both rare in the region. Although the site is designated as a local wildlife area, this status does not offer legal protection from development. However, it is expected that local planners will take the ecological value into account. Google stated that it has worked closely with environmental experts to ensure a 10% increase in biodiversity and to preserve parts of the site for public open space and green corridors. The company aims to regenerate the site, bringing long-term economic benefits to the area while maintaining environmental responsibility.