$5.4 billion Microsoft data center vs 41,000 petitioners — “Stopping this project is one of the most significant steps we could take”
Over 41,000 people have signed a petition opposing Microsoft’s planned $5.4 billion hyperscale data center in Leeds, England. The petition, initially started by a collective of 100 people, has expanded to include significant support from local residents and community members concerned about the project.
Microsoft received unanimous approval from Leeds City Council in April to proceed with the construction. The project comprises three data center buildings totaling approximately 424,000 square feet. However, the development still requires final approval from the local Chief Planning Officer before it can move forward.
The growing petition campaign signals substantial local opposition to the infrastructure development, with supporters describing preventing the project as “one of the most significant steps we could take.” This represents the kind of community resistance that increasingly accompanies large-scale tech infrastructure projects in Europe, where data centers’ environmental and local impacts have drawn heightened scrutiny.