Information request – planning applications for data centres (last 3 years)
Case reference EIR2026/01704
Received 22 July 2026
Published 30 July 2026
Request
I am writing to request the following information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and/or the Environmental Information Regulations 2004, whichever you consider applicable.
My request concerns planning applications relating to data centres — including data storage or data processing facilities, whether new build, change of use, conversion or extension — within the area covered by your authority.
For the three-year period from 1st January 2023 to 21 July 2026 inclusive, please provide:
1. The total number of planning applications received/validated that relate to data centres.
2. A breakdown of those applications by outcome:
a) granted/approved;
b) refused;
c) withdrawn;
d) still pending/awaiting determination.
Where possible, I would also be grateful for a list of the relevant applications showing, for each one: the planning reference number, the site address, the date received, the current status, and (where decided) the decision and decision date.
As data centres may not be recorded under a single category, I appreciate you may need to identify relevant applications from the description or use class (for example B8 or sui generis) — please interpret "data centre" reasonably and note any assumptions you make.
I'm happy to receive the information electronically, ideally as a spreadsheet or within the body of an email. If any part of this request is unclear, or if you expect the cost of compliance to exceed the appropriate limit, please contact me so that I can refine or narrow it rather than have it refused.
Response
I am writing to request the following information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and/or the Environmental Information Regulations 2004, whichever you consider applicable.
My request concerns planning applications relating to data centres — including data storage or data processing facilities, whether new build, change of use, conversion or extension — within the area covered by your authority.
For the three-year period from 1st January 2023 to 21 July 2026 inclusive, please provide:
1. The total number of planning applications received/validated that relate to data centres.
2. A breakdown of those applications by outcome:
a) granted/approved;
b) refused;
c) withdrawn;
d) still pending/awaiting determination.
Where possible, I would also be grateful for a list of the relevant applications showing, for each one: the planning reference number, the site address, the date received, the current status, and (where decided) the decision and decision date.
As data centres may not be recorded under a single category, I appreciate you may need to identify relevant applications from the description or use class (for example B8 or sui generis) — please interpret "data centre" reasonably and note any assumptions you make.
I'm happy to receive the information electronically, ideally as a spreadsheet or within the body of an email. If any part of this request is unclear, or if you expect the cost of compliance to exceed the appropriate limit, please contact me so that I can refine or narrow it rather than have it refused.
Answer: This information is publicly available and published on the Herefordshire council and can be viewed via the following link:
Planning search - Herefordshire Council
Please use ‘data’ ‘data storage’ or ‘data processing facilities’ as keywords.
As such we consider this information to be excepted under Regulation 6 of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 because this is available to you via other means.
Documents
This is Herefordshire Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.
You can browse our other responses or make a new FOI request.