Pinewood Studios group plans a new data centre on its site

Pinewood Group has submitted a planning application to Buckinghamshire Council for a data centre on the Pinewood South site.

The application outlines ‘significant investment’ with an estimated construction cost of more than £1billion.

It includes a 55,030sqm state-of-the-art data centre, a 60-acre nature reserve, six-acre community garden and learning space.

In 2024, the Government designated data centres as Critical National Infrastructure, and recognises their importance in key strategic locations.

The proposed data centre is in the Slough Availability Zone, one of these key locations, Pinewood Group says.

Its CEO, David Conway said: “Our proposed plan for a data centre on the land to the South of Pinewood Studios is in alignment with the critical infrastructure needs identified by the Government.

“The significant investment will bring jobs and additional benefits to the local community with the delivery of a nature reserve, community gardens and learning space.”

The planning application has a target determination date of the end of 2025. Subject to the grant of outline planning consent, a detailed reserved matters application will be submitted.

Plans have not yet been validated by Bucks council – more details to follow as documents become available to read.