A data center planned for Le Bourget, France, could be blocked by the commune’s newly elected mayor.

Mehdi Nezzar, who took over as mayor of Le Bourget, a commune in the northeastern suburbs of Paris, earlier this year, is demanding the cancellation of a 75MW data center planned by commercial property firm Segro at a former H&M warehouse.

According to DC Mag, a building permit for the project was granted by the previous administration, subject to additional public consultation, and studies on noise and air pollution being carried out.

An inquiry by Les missions régionales d’autorité environnementale (MRAe), an independent authority that assesses the environmental impact of building projects, raised some concerns about the scheme.

These include the proposed use of R1234ze, a refrigerant dubbed low-emission but belonging to the PFAS family of “forever chemicals” that are damaging to the environment. The MRAe also queried the limited waste heat recovery planned for the site – Segro says it will recover heat from 12MW of the 75MW used at the data center – and the facility’s impact on air quality.

The 25,300 sqm (272,325 sq ft) data center would feature three buildings and 33 backup generators.

A page promoting the development, advertising a Q3 2028 opening date, appears to have been removed from the Segro website. DCD has contacted the firm for more information on the project’s status.

Mayor Nezzar’s opposition to the scheme has likely been influenced by a petition against the development, which has garnered 18,000 signatures. It says the data center could have a negative impact on nearby homes, schools, and daycare centers.

Segro is also working on another data center project in Paris area, set to be located in the southeastern suburb of Val-de-Marne. This would have a capacity of 70MW