In September 2026, Microsoft’s hyperscale AI data center project at Skelton Grange, Leeds, UK, encountered fierce pushback from local residents, with a petition against the project amassing 40,000 signatures. The site, initially earmarked for a power station, covers approximately 65.6 hectares and envisions the construction of three buildings with a combined floor space of 46,500 square meters. Residents have voiced concerns that the data center’s operations will lead to substantial water consumption, intensify the effects of high temperatures exacerbated by climate change, and drive up local energy costs. While the Leeds Planning Committee has granted conditional approval, the project cannot proceed without final authorization from the Chief Planning Officer, leaving its future in limbo. Opponents are seizing this opportunity to prevent the project from moving forward, with some even contemplating legal action.