South Norfolk's register shows 400 public comments on the Keswick data centre: 397 objections and one in support. Norwich City Council has until 27 November.
The main public comment period on the Keswick data centre closed on Wednesday with 397 objections on South Norfolk Council’s planning register, and one comment in support.
Norwich Apex Ltd wants to build a two-storey data centre on about 13 hectares west of the A140 Ipswich Road at Keswick. The site is in South Norfolk, about two and a half miles south of Norwich City Hall, so South Norfolk Council will decide it. The full detail of the scheme is in our first report on the application.
The neighbour consultation deadline was 28 October. On the morning of 29 October the register’s public comments tab for application 2026/2957 showed:
- 400 comments received
- 397 objections
- 1 in support
- 312 neighbouring addresses consulted by letter
The register does not classify the other two comments.
Key consultees want more time
Several of the bodies whose advice carries most weight have not responded yet. Their requests are on the application’s documents tab.
- Norwich City Council asked on 14 October for an extension to 27 November, “given the amount of material accompanying the application”. South Norfolk agreed on 26 October.
- Keswick and Intwood Parish Council asked for the same date. South Norfolk accepted that request on 9 October.
- Norfolk County Council, as the lead local flood authority, said it could not respond by the statutory limit of 28 October and asked for an extension to 11 November.
- South Norfolk’s own Environmental Quality team, which advises on matters such as noise and air quality, asked on 20 October for a month beyond the original 21 days.
The register lists 544 documents for the application, including the public comments. It shows 25 consultees, of which seven had responded by 29 October.
What the first consultees said
Archaeology. Norfolk County Council’s Historic Environment Service wrote on 19 October that the site lies within “a highly complex multi-period archaeological landscape” in the Yare valley, near the Roman town at Caistor St Edmund. It says earlier investigations on the main part of the site, between 2015 and 2020, found evidence of a Roman farmstead and of Neolithic flint mining and working.
It does not object. It asks that any permission carries conditions requiring a written scheme of archaeological investigation before work starts, in at least two phases, beginning with trial trenching of the additional area north of the B1113.
Norwich Airport said on 8 October that it would offer no aerodrome safeguarding objection, provided the scheme follows the submitted plans and the relevant codes of practice, including Civil Aviation Authority crane notification.
The Environment Agency replied on 9 October that it had no comments. It said it did not need to be consulted, because the scheme falls outside its consultation checklist.
Active Travel England issued its standing advice on 13 October and asked to be told of any committee date.
The petition
The Change.org petition against the scheme had 19,264 signatures on the morning of 29 October. It had 16,657 when we first reported on the application on 13 October. A petition is not counted as planning comments on the register.
What happens next
The register’s important dates tab lists later expiry dates than the neighbour deadline:
- the site notice expires on 2 November
- the press advert expires on 5 November
- the latest consultation expiry date is 6 November
There is no committee date yet. South Norfolk Council’s internal target date for a decision is 1 January 2027, and it can agree a later date with the applicant.
What it means for you
- If you have not commented yet: the neighbour deadline has passed, but the register still lists the press advert as open until 5 November. Comments go through the application page on South Norfolk’s register.
- If you live in Norwich: the city council will give its view as a neighbouring authority by 27 November. It does not make the decision.
- What counts: the council weighs planning matters such as noise, landscape, heritage, traffic and drainage. A comment that addresses those carries more weight than a count of objections. Our first report sets out what the application says on each.
For other schemes around the city, see our Norwich planning news page.
Sources
- South Norfolk Council planning register, application 2026/2957: summary, public comments, consultee comments and important dates tabs, read on 29 October 2026.
- Documents on the register: Norwich City Council’s request for an extension (14 October) and South Norfolk’s reply (26 October); Keswick and Intwood Parish Council’s request and South Norfolk’s reply (8 and 9 October); Norfolk County Council lead local flood authority letter (8 October); Environmental Quality team memo (20 October); Norfolk County Council Historic Environment Service letter (19 October); Norwich Airport safeguarding letter (8 October); Environment Agency reply (9 October); Active Travel England standing advice (13 October).
- Change.org petition, signature count read on 29 October 2026.
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