What steps is the Welsh Government taking to avoid any environmental damage being caused by vantage data centres, as has been seen in the United States?
The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Wales) Regulations 2017 sets out the procedures for assessing any planning application which is likely to give rise to potential impact on the environment. This includes the requirement for screening of planning applications for the need of a full Environmental Impact Assessment, or EIA.
Planning authorities can request any additional information they deem is necessary to determine an application. Even where a planning authority concludes that EIA is not required, planning applications must still be determined in accordance with the policies set out in the relevant adopted development plan, unless material indications lead a planning authority to decide otherwise.