Data Communities Manifesto

Data centres are becoming an increasingly important part of the UK’s built environment, shaping both urban areas and rural hinterlands. As their scale and impact grow, Cross Works believes city makers should be taking notice.

The UK’s New Towns Taskforce has recently set out an approach to delivering much-needed housing and communities across the country. However, the term “data centre” appears only once in the 135-page document. For Cross Works, this is a significant omission given the size, infrastructure demands and long-term urban impact of data centres.

In our manifesto, Data Communities, we call for a new approach to the planning and design of data centres. These large-scale pieces of critical infrastructure should be better integrated into their surrounding landscapes, designed with future resilience in mind, and considered as part of the long-term good of cities and communities.

The manifesto brings together ideas and recommendations for how data centres can move beyond being isolated technical assets and become more meaningful contributors to sustainable places.