Outline plans for massive data centre win approval

Plans to build what has been described one of the largest data centres in Europe have been given the go-ahead.

Hertsmere Borough Council’s planning committee has approved outline plans for the DC01UK development near the M25 South Mimms service station in Hertfordshire, that will cover 87,000 sq m.

Data centres are huge warehouses filled with computers that remotely power services such as streaming and artificial intelligence.

Jeremy Newmark, the leader of the council, described it as a “momentous development for our borough”, although the project could be some years away from completion.

In the UK, data centres are set to be classified as critical national infrastructure, similar to the emergency services and energy and water supplies.

The developers said DC01UK would be “Europe’s largest cloud and AI data centre”.

Outline planning approval sets broad principles around the proposed development, but there will be further rounds of public consultation.

Newmark, chair of the Hertfordshire Growth Board, said: “While outline planning permission has been granted, we will of course continue to listen to and engage with residents about these exciting plans as more details are firmed up.

“As I’ve said before, I’m sure local people will see the massive value this development could bring to our area.”

Peter Waine, chair of the Hertfordshire branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England, questioned the decision to put the development on green belt land.

He said: “It is a huge potential development, it is the biggest in Europe, and along with the proposed 1,000 houses that will be built adjacent there is going to be hardly any green belt between Potters Bar and the M25 at South Mimms.

“It may not be the most wonderful and beautiful green belt but it is green belt… I admit it’s not the Lake District but it is land on our doorstep – it is open space.”

Newmark responded: “We are not going to apologise as an authority for making a choice that is [to] the benefit of local people and provides critical national infrastructure that our country needs to deliver on the government’s national growth mission.”

A spokesperson for DC01UK said: “This approval will also solidify Hertsmere’s status as a leading region… as a tech and media superhub, complementing other established, large technology-driven organisations and film studios in the area.

“Our plan will put Hertfordshire at the epicentre of the new data centre revolution, as well as creating £3.75bn for the economy during construction and almost 14,000 indirect jobs once operational.”