Concern over noise levels from new data centre

6 days ago 21

Four ample quadrate buildings with greenish roofs and surrounded by trees

Plans to physique a information centre the tallness of 3 treble decker buses connected a erstwhile 50-acre concern tract successful a region person moved forward.

Virtus has begun constructing 4 information centre buildings connected the erstwhile Molins baccy instrumentality mill tract astatine Saunderton adjacent High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, 3 of the buildings – each lodging immense banks of computers – volition beryllium 2 storeys high, with the 4th 3 storeys and astir 17 metres high.

Planning support was granted successful 2008, but caller plans person been submitted to Buckinghamshire Council to alteration the permitted sound levels erstwhile the field is operational.

The company's cause said: "The archetypal wording, arsenic it stands, renders compliance with the operational sound thresholds unachievable and arsenic specified the approved improvement undeliverable."

'Artificial intelligence'

The restrictions are to assistance guarantee the bid of respective residential properties neighbouring the aged Molins site, including 1 that is 20 metres away.

Noise concerns implicit the caller information centre field were antecedently raised by Bledlow-cum-Saunderton Parish Council successful 2022.

It said it was "concerned" arsenic each the projected buildings were apt to nutrient sound from fans and machinery.

In its caller exertion Virtus included an acoustics study which it claimed would springiness the assembly "confidence that resultant sound volition beryllium managed and controlled to an acceptable, pre-agreed level".

The papers specified measures to trim sound contamination from the information centre, specified arsenic barriers and "acoustic attenuation packs" for the site's chiller units.

Last twelvemonth Virtus said its Saunderton improvement was a "state-of-the-art information centre campus" driven by the "proliferation of unreality and artificial quality applications".

In a statement, the steadfast said the tract was expected to beryllium "ready for service" successful the 2nd 4th of 2026.

An bureau gathering and the ballroom connected the aged Molins tract volition beryllium retained and refurbished nether the plans.

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