Demand for digital infrastructure continues to increase as our economy, businesses, public services, medical innovations and our day-to-day lives rely more on data driven technologies.The expansion of cloud computing, online services, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies is expected to accelerate this trend significantly in the coming years.

 

Modern data centres play a critical role in supporting the UK’s digital economy by providing the secure storage, processing and connectivity required for a wide range of sectors. Continued

investment in this infrastructure is essential if the UK is to maintain its global competitiveness, encourage innovation and support future economic growth.

 

The proposed site is located within the Slough - Hayes Availability Zone which is one of the most established and strategically important data centre clusters in the World. Its proximity to existing digital infrastructure and network connectivity provides the resilience, reliability and operational performance required by modern data centre facilities.

 

Recent Planning Appeal Decisions have demonstrated that there is an urgent unmet growing need for new data centres and a lack of viable alternative locations suitable to meet this demand.

 

The proposed data centre will contribute to meeting this growing need and will ensure that the Slough Borough Council area benefits from the significant investment, job creation, economic diversification and other opportunities associated with data centre development.

 

The proposed development will utilise grey belt land which is a former household landfill site with very little biodiversity. The proposed development will include managed landscaping to enhance the

biodiversity which will help to rejuvenate this former landfill site. The proposed development is also located a significant distance from local residents, being situated alongside the M25, the Colnbrook By-pass and adjacent to a rail freight line in an area that is developed entirely for employment generating uses.