Glastonbury data centre warning falls flat

By Laura Linham 2nd Jun 2026

Local News by Laura Linham 1 hour ago

A Facebook post claiming a huge data centre is heading for the Avalon Levels has been circulating in Glastonbury — but the planning reference it cites tells a different story.

The post prompted a number of concerned readers to contact Nub News asking whether the claims were true.

It warned of what it called an "industrial encroachment" and claimed there was "official proof" of a data centre planned for land near Westhay, Meare and Ashcott.

It was later edited to add Horsey to the location.

The post said the proposal was being brought forward by West Data Developments Ltd under planning reference 2025/1288/FUL.

However, the planning record checked under the similar reference 2025/1288/HSE relates to a two-storey rear extension and loft conversion at a house in Coleford.

Searches for that exact name, and for West Data Developments Limited, did not return a matching Companies House record.

The closest results were for other businesses with similar names, including Data Developments (UK) Limited, a software company based in Wolverhampton, and West Developments UK Ltd, based in Gravesend.

Neither appears to be the company named in the post, and neither could be linked to a hyperscale data centre proposal in Somerset.

There is a separate data centre proposal elsewhere in Somerset.

Reports have described a scheme near Horsey, north of Bridgwater, close to junction 23 of the M5.

That proposal has been linked to Express Distribution Park and Lichfields, and has been reported as an early-stage scoping request rather than a full planning approval.

A scoping request is part of the planning process that helps establish what environmental information may be needed if a full application is submitted.

The Facebook post also claimed there had already been a council refusal and an appeal to overturn it.

Those claims have not been verified from the records checked.

There is also a live solar farm application at Nythe Road, Walton.

Planning reference 2025/1289/FUL is for a proposed ground-mounted solar photovoltaic park, underground cable route and ancillary development on land at Nythe Road, Walton, Street.

Residents concerned by online posts about planning applications should check Somerset Council's planning portal directly, search by the exact reference number, and read the documents before signing or sharing campaign material.