diff --git a/cf/data/data.py b/cf/data/data.py
index c9445a02d7..ed050cca01 100644
--- a/cf/data/data.py
+++ b/cf/data/data.py
@@ -5640,37 +5640,6 @@ def apply_masking(
 
         return d
 
-    @classmethod
-    def concatenate_data(cls, data_list, axis):
-        """Concatenates a list of Data objects into a single Data object
-        along the specified access (see cf.Data.concatenate for
-        details). In the case that the list contains only one element,
-        that element is simply returned.
-
-        :Parameters:
-
-            data_list: `list`
-                The list of data objects to concatenate.
-
-            axis: `int`
-                The axis along which to perform the concatenation.
-
-        :Returns:
-
-            `Data`
-                The resulting single `Data` object.
-
-        """
-        if len(data_list) > 1:
-            data = cls.concatenate(data_list, axis=axis)
-            if data.fits_in_one_chunk_in_memory(data.dtype.itemsize):
-                data.varray
-
-            return data
-        else:
-            assert len(data_list) == 1
-            return data_list[0]
-
     def argmax(self, axis=None, unravel=False):
         """Return the indices of the maximum values along an axis.
 
diff --git a/cf/data/mixin/deprecations.py b/cf/data/mixin/deprecations.py
index 4b3f078dee..a4f9cabda6 100644
--- a/cf/data/mixin/deprecations.py
+++ b/cf/data/mixin/deprecations.py
@@ -966,3 +966,32 @@ def reconstruct_sectioned_data(cls, sections, cyclic=(), hardmask=None):
             "Data method 'reconstruct_sectioned_data' has been deprecated "
             "at version TODODASK and is no longer available"
         )
+
+    @classmethod
+    def concatenate_data(cls, data_list, axis):
+        """Concatenates a list of Data objects along the specified axis.
+
+        See cf.Data.concatenate for details.
+
+        In the case that the list contains only one element, that element
+        is simply returned.
+
+        :Parameters:
+
+            data_list: `list`
+                The list of data objects to concatenate.
+
+            axis: `int`
+                The axis along which to perform the concatenation.
+
+        :Returns:
+
+            `Data`
+                The resulting single `Data` object.
+
+        """
+        raise DeprecationError(
+            "Data method 'concatenate_data' has been deprecated at "
+            "version TODODASK and is no longer available. Use "
+            "'concatenate' instead."
+        )