State-of-the-art data centre planned for Hertfordshire

Planning has been submitted by DC01UK for a best-in-class data centre in Hertsmere, Hertfordshire.

The proposed facility would be one of the largest data centre campuses in Europe, catering for up to two million square feet of floor space, set in the grounds of 85 acres adjacent to the A1 and M25.

The developer said this project will bring together all the key pillars for a data centre that can fulfil future demands, which are being driven by increased use of cloud storage and AI services.

The data centres could be operational in 2029 with economic benefits being felt nationally and locally from the construction phase onwards. The project has an estimated construction value of approximately £3.75bn, supporting at least 500 jobs during the construction phase.

Once operational, the site would support at least 200 new, permanent, local jobs. Additionally, DC01UK is likely to generate approximately £1.1bn per annum GVA (Gross Value Added) indirectly per year, as well as create 13,700 new job opportunities throughout the UK across numerous sectors.

DC01UK’s construction will closely align with Hertsmere Borough Council’s Net Zero strategy, delivering low-carbon buildings and on-site renewable power generation. Net biodiversity on the site is also due to increase by at least 10% under the plans, with 54% of the site retained as open, green space.

A spokesperson for DC01UK, commenting on their submission of the planning application, said: “The ambition for this project is to build the next generation of national digital infrastructure to power the needs of tomorrow.

“DC01UK is a unique and world-leading project. It will be the UK’s premier data centre, providing critical infrastructure for the UK’s future, generating approximately £3.75bn for the UK economy during the construction phase, and delivering huge economic benefits to the UK and brilliant opportunities for local people.”

Peter Kyle MP, Technology Secretary, said: “Data centres play an essential role in British society, housing some of our most important data from vital NHS records to sensitive financial information.

“This huge £3.75bn proposed investment is a vote of confidence in our plans to support the sector to thrive, ensuring everyone across society can feel the economic benefits of its growth.

“To achieve this, we must make the sector resilient to the challenges of today – from heatwaves to cyber attacks – which is why only today we have announced we will class data centres as ‘Critical National Infrastructure’, on par with energy supply systems.”