Devon tourism under threat as data centre puts UNESCO status at risk

Environmentalist Steve Crowther has stated that the loss of the North Devon Biosphere status could mean a “massive blow” for the local tourism industry. His reaction comes as UNESCO has commented on the potential impact of a data centre project in the area.

The United Kingdom counts seven Biospheres, areas that are at the forefront of the country’s work to mitigate the effects of climate change, limit biodiversity loss, and promote sustainable ways of living according to UNESCO. One of those areas is the North Devon Biosphere, but its status may be threatened due to the plans for an AI data centre and battery storage facility near Torrington.

“A development of this scale, in the Transition Zone set aside for sustainable activity, is the kind of change that the UK MAB National Committee, UNESCO’s national counterpart, would factor into its ongoing reporting to the MAB Secretariat. While UNESCO won’t be submitting a formal comment on this proposal, the question of whether a data centre’s compatibility with the site’s sustainable-development mandate is one that will feed directly into how North Devon’s continued designation is assessed,” a UNESCO spokesperson said about the project. 

The AI data centre and battery storage facility was first proposed in June by Xlinks, a British energy company. The campus could cover 343 hectares of farmland between Great Torrington, Huntshaw, and Weare Giffard. According to a spokesperson from the energy company, the project is still in an early phase. 

Fantastic to see hundreds of people this evening at the public meeting in #torrington concerning the proposed AI data centre & BESS. The message is loud & clear – Say No to the Devon Data Monster! #datacentre #battery #torridge #northdevon #planning #devon pic.twitter.com/O7w44ZT861

— Devon CPRE (@cpredevon) September 3, 2026

“It will be shared with residents and councils as soon as possible. We will also take into account feedback we receive as part of an extensive consultation before submitting planning applications.”

Since the plans for the site first emerged, local opposition to it has been fierce. The latest stakeholder to speak up is Steve Crowther, chair of the environmental group Devon CPRE, who referred to the earlier statement by UNESCO to point out its potential threat to the area.

“The news that North Devon could lose its UNESCO Biosphere designation if the data centre plan goes ahead confirms our worst fears about this misguided proposal. The loss of the Biosphere would be a massive blow to our tourism industry, on top of the looming physical presence of one of the world’s three largest data centres and Europe’s largest battery assembly on our cherished rural landscape,” commented Crowther.

The Torrington action group are out in force this evening, outside the offices of Torridge District Council – the message is quite clear from the local community – say no to the Devon data Monster! #devon #datacentre #bess #torrington #torridge #northdevon pic.twitter.com/WiYWenTI6I

— Devon CPRE (@cpredevon) September 21, 2026

Biospheres such as the one in North Devon are submitted to a review every 10 years in order to determine whether or not the area still follows the ‘Man and Biosphere’ programme’s internationally agreed criteria. If this is not the case, a former UNESCO Biosphere can lose its status and thus its potential attractiveness among tourists. 

Crowther added that UK citizens are signing Devon CPRE’s Register of Objectors en masse in order to prevent the project from going through and to demonstrate their opposition.

In a comment on Crowther’s statement, Xlinks has said that the project as referred to Devon CPRE is no longer up to date and will not form part of the company’s planning applications for the Devon Data Campus. However, Xlinks has not yet made its new plans public, thereby leaving locals in the dark about the updated plans and their impact on the Biosphere.