Nine-year-old leads fight against £13bn AI data centre planned for Devon countryside

She’s only nine-years-old but Demelza May is taking on the powerful world of hi tech, to lead a growing campaign to stop a huge AI data centre being built on 850 acres of Devon countryside.

She has joined forces with her mum, Daisy Hiron-Snow, 30, to oppose plans by developer Xlinks for what is believed to be Europe's largest artificial intelligence data centre, alongside a huge battery energy storage facility.

The proposed £13bn development near Torrington would transform a vast area of farmland close to the family's home, prompting fears over its impact on wildlife, water supplies and the rural landscape.

Demelza, who lives on a farm and hopes to become a farmer herself, recently addressed a meeting of Torridge District Council to make an impassioned plea for councillors to reject the proposals.

She told members she wanted her future to be "green and beautiful", with dark skies, stars, birdsong and the sound of trees rustling.

"I don't want this, and I'm going to try and stop it with everything I'm doing," she said.

"It'll squash all the animals' lives, like rabbits, hedgehogs, pheasants, worms, slugs, snails, moles and also, it'll take away a huge area of land and change our home forever.

"It's not right for the world. It's not right for my future. It's not right for everyone's future."

Demelza also challenged claims the development would bring valuable opportunities to the area, arguing that local farmers and small businesses deserved greater support.

"When I am older, I want to be a farmer and maybe carry on my family's businesses," she said.

"There are lots of opportunities here, you just need to support local people and small businesses rather than an industry full of tech billionaires."

She urged councillors to consider the long-term consequences for children growing up in the area, adding: "Please do not choose for it to go ahead."

Xlinks says the proposed 1.5GW campus would help meet growing national demand for AI computing capacity while providing a major customer for clean energy.

The company estimates the project would require capital investment of between £12.2billion and £13.8billion, create between 650 and 1,200 permanent jobs and generate £3.6billion annually for the local economy.

It has also pledged a community benefits package, education and skills programmes and opportunities for local suppliers.

However, Demelza's mum Daisy, a business owner, believes the consequences for the area's established farming and tourism industries could be devastating.

"Every single visitor mentions the dark skies, the tranquillity, the peace and quiet, the rural nature and the stars," she said.

"We will lose all that. And so what will people then really be coming for? I don't think they will."

Daisy also highlighted concerns over water supplies, saying the area had already experienced a drought and been subject to a hosepipe ban throughout the summer.

She added that a local stream had run dry for the first time this year.

The plans were first made public in June, although Freedom of Information requests subsequently revealed that Xlinks had been in discussions with Torridge District Council officials about the project a year earlier.

The council has said it followed the correct procedures during the pre-planning process and stressed that no formal planning applications have yet been submitted.

Any proposals received will be considered by its planning committee.

Responding to Demelza's appearance at its full council meeting on October 26, the authority praised the youngster for speaking so passionately.

A spokesperson said it was encouraging to see young people engaging with democracy and recognising their right to have their voices heard.

The council also encouraged residents of all ages to speak up about local issues.