Detailed plans unveiled for £1bn data centre at Pinewood

More details have been revealed about a vast ‘state-of-the art’ data centre planned for land next to Pinewood Studios.

The £1billion plan to build a hyperscale data centre campus at Pinewood South could see it open by 2030.

A hyperscale data centre is a specific form used by large technology companies, typically operated by one company, and usually the largest type.

The plans by Pinewood South Ltd seek permission for a 55,030sqm (approx. 592,300sqft) facility.

A growing national need?

There is ‘a clear and overwhelming need for data centres’ in the UK – and this is the best place for one, Pinewood South Ltd claims.

If all currently proposed data centres in the region are approved and built by 2030, the UK will still fall short by the equivalent of 25 to 30 additional 100MW facilities (a very large data centre), Pinewood South Ltd’s figures suggest.

Applicants argue that, in the wake of rapid advances in cloud computing and artificial intelligence, demand is far outpacing supply.

“The emergence of AI has been recognised by Government as a strategic opportunity in which the UK could become one of the world leaders,” the application says.

Jobs and investment

Construction costs alone will exceed £1billion, excluding the multi-million-pound internal fit-out.

The construction phase would create about 1,300 full-time equivalent jobs, and there will be around 235 permanent roles once the data centre is operational.

It is expected to generate £125million a year for the economy.

This would be about a 0.6 per cent boost to Buckinghamshire’s total economic output – quite significant for one data centre.

Moreover, the facility is expected to spend £240-£370million a year on goods and services from other businesses.

This could support around 1,000 to 1,300 extra jobs, Pinewood South Ltd predicts.

Greenbelt and nature

The land is currently agricultural grassland and classed as greenbelt.

But Pinewood South is ‘conclusively a grey belt site’ and thus, wouldn’t constitute inappropriate development, the applicants argue.

Their heights are limited to 22.5m for data halls, the largest structures. That’s about the equivalent of a seven-storey building.

More than six hectares of new green infrastructure is also planned, with community gardens and a nature reserve at Alderbourne Farm.

The community gardens would measure around 2.4ha, providing gardening space, orchards, a recreation area, learning space and allotments.

Transport, parking and travel

A new priority junction would be created on Pinewood Road, along with a secondary entrance from Uxbridge Road.

Parking would be provided through surface lots and a single-deck multi-storey car park.

There are aims to promote low-emission travel and reduce private car use, supporting cycling, car sharing and public transport.

Off-site improvements include traffic calming in Iver Heath and Fulmer, footway and cycleway enhancements, upgraded lay-bys along the A412, Black Park/A412 junction works and funding for the Peace Path upgrade.

Moreover, the traffic movements would be reduced compared to the alternative larger studio schemes already granted permission.

• To see all documents, enter reference PL/25/2076/OA into the online planning portal: pa-csb.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/online-applications