A proposed Google data centre at a former speedway venue in Essex could destroy habitats home to one of Britain's most endangered plants and a rare bumblebee species, wildlife campaigners have warned.
The 129-acre site at Arena Essex Raceway in Thurrock was purchased by Global Infrastructure UK Limited in July 2023 for £47 million and a planning application has been submitted for the facility. The location is designated as a local wildlife site and hosts the broad-leaved cudweed plant and the shrill carder bumblebee, both of conservation concern.
Emily Buttress, from the Essex Wildlife Trust, expressed concern about the scale and pace of data centre development in the region.
"We are quite worried with the rapid development of data centres. What would it do for the local community in a water drought county? We are not against development, but it has to happen sustainably."
The trust has documented 687 invertebrate species and 439 plant species on the site, alongside other notable fauna including dingy skipper butterflies, brown-banded carder bees, nightingale birds, and five-banded weevil-wasps. The shrill carder bumblebee is particularly significant, being found in only two areas across England.
Data centres are vast warehouse facilities housing powerful computers that support digital services ranging from movie streaming and online banking to artificial intelligence systems. The UK currently has 568 data centres in operation.
What is the scale of the proposed development?
According to Thurrock Council's public notice, the scheme is a hybrid application comprising up to four data centre buildings alongside a separate office building. The proposal includes up to 130,500 square metres of data centre space and up to 4,000 square metres of office accommodation, plus utility infrastructure, emergency backup generators, energy storage systems, electric vehicle charging facilities, and parking for up to 450 vehicles.
The application also incorporates habitat creation and open space enhancements as part of the scheme, including pedestrian and cycle links to the Mar Dyke Local Wildlife Site and Lakeside.
What are the environmental concerns?
The Essex Wildlife Trust has raised multiple environmental objections to the development. Buttress highlighted worries about water consumption and energy usage in a water-stressed county, the thermal effects on surrounding land, and insufficient research into the long-term ecological impacts of large data centre facilities.
The site was designated as a local wildlife site in 2006, a status that does not provide legal protection from development but signals to council planners that developers should prioritise ecological considerations in their proposals.
What does Google say about environmental responsibility?
Google stated that it takes environmental responsibilities seriously and has worked with Natural England and independent ecologists to shape the proposal. A company spokesperson said:
"We share the Essex Wildlife Trust and Buglife's view that development at the former Arena Essex site must be sustainable. Our goal is to regenerate the site, bringing long-term investment and jobs to Thurrock while taking our environmental responsibilities very seriously."
The company committed to achieving a 10% biodiversity net gain and preserving a substantial portion of the site for new public open space, green links, retained habitat, and long-term enhancement of key woodland corridors.
In their planning submission, consultancy firm Mallory Land Ltd, acting on behalf of Google, noted that demand for data centres has surged in recent years.
"The demand for data centres has expanded significantly in recent years, driven by exponential growth in digital services, the emergence of artificial intelligence, cloud-based technologies, and the increasing adoption of smart infrastructure."
Google has indicated that the facility would generate substantial employment opportunities for the local area and contribute to the UK economy through essential digital infrastructure.
What is the site's history?
Arena Essex Raceway hosted speedway racing for the Lakeside Hammers team until 2018, when the venue announced it would cease fixtures. The motorsport facility had operated for four decades before closure. Following the end of speedway operations, the grassland and woodland habitat expanded, attracting the diverse species now documented by the Essex Wildlife Trust.
Local campaigners have mobilised against the proposal since late 2024, when the site entered consultation. According to local reporting, a petition opposing the development had gathered more than 30,700 supporters by February 2026.
The Thurrock Hammers speedway campaign group has filed multiple objections to the application. On 28 August 2026, the group submitted two further objections addressing contamination and asbestos concerns and the loss of the speedway facility itself.
What happens next?
The planning application remains under active consideration by Thurrock Council. According to the council's public notice last updated on 19 August 2026, the application continues through the planning process. A public comment period was still being directed through the council's planning portal in late August 2026, indicating that further decision-making steps remain pending. The formal determination of the application has not yet been made.
Key Facts:
- The 129-acre site is home to the broad-leaved cudweed plant and shrill carder bumblebee, both rare species of conservation concern
- The proposal includes up to four data centre buildings, an office building, and habitat creation measures as part of a hybrid planning application
- Google has committed to a 10% biodiversity net gain and preservation of substantial open space and woodland corridors
- Local opposition has gathered over 30,700 petition signatures, with the Hammers campaign group filing multiple objections
- Thurrock Council's planning decision remains outstanding as of late August 2026
