30/07/2026
🚨 Secretary of State approves plans for Data Centre and offices on Brick Lane 🚨
Our Statement:
We are deeply disappointed by the clearly rushed decision by the Secretary of State for Housing, Angela Rayner, to approve the Truman Brewery planning applications, including the proposal to build a data centre in Brick Lane.
We are particularly shocked to read the concluding remarks in the Inspector’s report, stating that 120 social housing units “does not seem a whole lot better” than the six units of affordable homes proposed in this scheme. This flies in the face of the fact that there are currently over 30,000 households on the Tower Hamlets social housing waiting list, demonstrating the scale and urgency of the housing need.
The decision also wrongly states that “the Council agrees there is a need for data centre capacity” in this part of London. Yet, the council unanimously rejected this planning application on 31 July 2025 and instead called for more housing. The London Assembly report, Gridlocked: how planning can ease London’s electricity constraints, warns that the growing demand from data centres can delay the delivery of much-needed housing. Our community should not be expected to accept a noisy, energy-intensive development that will consume enough power for over 15,000 homes while local needs are being discarded for the dictates of the financial district.
The report goes on to suggest that neoliberal economics, commercial development and gentrification are the way out of the housing crisis: a surprising tone to be coming from Angela Rayner’s office.
The decision is not the end of the campaign: the Save Brick Lane coalition is seeking expert advice on how it might be challenged.
Join us in the coming weeks for a public meeting. Details to be announced soon.
-Save Brick Lane
