Equinix commits £3.9 billion to a new UK data centre
US-based Equinix has bought the site of a planned data centre in the UK and will develop it into a facility with more than 250 MW of capacity.
CAD image of Hertfordshire Campus
The site was purchased from developer, DC01UK, who acquired the 85-acre site in South Mimms, seeking planning permission for a data centre, and concluding a power deal with National Grid.
Equinix has renamed it the Hertfordshire Campus, and will set about spending £3.9 billion, which will create one of the largest data centre sites in Europe, boasting a floor area of more than 2 million square feet.
"The UK is a cornerstone of the global economy and is a natural home for our most substantial investment in Europe to date," said James Tyler, UK managing director, Equinix.
James Tyler
"This development brings a significant amount of data centre capacity to Britain, contributing to the government's AI growth ambition. But this investment goes far beyond building the infrastructure needed to unlock the UK's digital potential. It's the evolution of an ongoing partnership with the local and national community."
Equinix predicts the construction phase will directly support 2,500 local jobs and once operational will employ 200 permanent staff.
Citing research from KPMG, Equinix said the direct and indirect employment created by the data centre could generate up to £120 million in wages. Construction could contribute to the economy up to £3 billion in annual gross value added (GVA), and up to £260 million of GVA once operational.
The Hertfordshire Campus will minimise water consumption by using air cooling and retain 54% of the land as open space. It has also committed to create new habitats with the aim of achieving a net biodiversity gain of 10%.
Equinix also has an over-arching plan to power all of its facilities using renewable sources by 2030.
Liz Kendall
"This £3.9 billion investment is a huge win for Britain. It will give businesses – from life sciences to high street banks – the ability to connect to thousands of other businesses across the world in an instant, powering our AI ambitions, boosting growth and creating hundreds of well-paid jobs," said Liz Kendall, secretary of state for Science, Innovation and Technology.
“It is about making sure the UK is at the forefront of the digital revolution and ensuring that every community benefits from the opportunities this new technology brings”.
Equinix already owns 14 data centres across the UK, and the country has been focused on attracting as much investment in data technology as possible.
Other recent investments have been secured from the likes of Microsoft, OpenAI and Nvidia.
In addition, Google opened a new UK data centre, also in Hertfordshire, as part of a two-year UK investment plan worth £5 billion.