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Hertfordshire is set to be the UK-based location of Europe’s largest cloud and AI data centre following Hertsmere Borough Council’s approval of the planning application.
The project is being overseen by DC01UK, an organisation incorporated in July 2022. It is a joint venture between renewable energy consultancy Chiltern Green Energy and building developer Griggs Homes.
Approved yesterday evening, the £3.75 billion ($4.68bn) facility will span two million square feet and serve as a cornerstone of the UK’s AI infrastructure, following the Labour government’s recent AI Opportunities Action Plan, announced last week.
Strategically located near Elstree’s Letchmore Heath substation and the M25 South Mimms service station in Hertfordshire, the site offers a 400MVA power reservation and proximity to key fibre optic routes and availability zones, addressing Europe’s cloud shortfall.
According to DCO1UK’s press release, issued today, once operational, it is projected to generate £1.1bn ($1.37bn) annually in Gross Value Added (GVA).
According to a report in Computer Weekly last September, which focused on the planning documents, responsibility for the construction of the data centre will fall on an unspecified “end-user,” who will have the “opportunity” to tailor the facility’s design to their needs.
The planning documents confirm that several parties have already been approached about taking over the site. The developers are known to be courting both colocation companies interested in leasing the site out and members of the hyperscale community.
This end user will need to submit their own specific plans for the site in the hope of getting their bespoke data centre development project approved.
Read more: Why AI isn’t a superpower – response to AI Opportunities Plan
According to DC01UK, the project will create 500 on-site jobs during construction, 200 permanent skilled roles, and 13,740 indirect jobs, with 10,900 in the southeast.
While the local council has been met with a series of concerns about the impact the build will have on the area’s Green Belt Land, biodiversity, and local traffic levels, according to DC01UK, the development promises sustainability.
Eighty-five acres of grounds will retain 54% as green space, achieving a 10% net biodiversity gain.
The developers add that local benefits include ÂŁ2 million ($2.2m) for bus route upgrades, expanded cycle hire, and infrastructure improvements.
Hertsmere Council Leader Jeremy Newmark hailed the project as a “momentous development,” aligning with the borough’s growth vision and reinforcing its reputation as a tech and media superhub.
Sir Chris Bryant MP, Minister for Telecoms, praised the project as pivotal to the UK’s digital economy, highlighting its role in advancing AI and creating skilled jobs.
In the UK, data centres are set to be classified as critical national infrastructure, similar to emergency services, energy, and water supplies.