SEGRO advances Slough’s digital infrastructure leadership
A major new announcement from SEGRO places Slough firmly at the forefront of the UK’s digital economy. The pre-let of a powered shell facility at the Slough Trading Estate marks further progress in SEGRO’s 2.5GW+ data centre programme, underlining both the scale of opportunity and sustained investor confidence in Slough as a critical hub for digital infrastructure.
Andrew Pilsworth, Managing Director of Data Centres and Strategic Partnerships at SEGRO, said the deal reflects continued delivery against a substantial powered land bank with local development backed by a SSE operated multifuel power station in Slough converting roughly 480,000 tonnes of residual waste per year into electricity, with a capacity of around 55MW to 60MW, enough to power over 100,000 homes,
Andrew Pilsworth, (left) and Pat Hayes
“The critical mass of data centres we have built up at Slough over the last 20 years, together with the Simplified Planning Zone status we have secured there were integral to enabling us to work with an existing customer to expand its campus, while allowing SEGRO to profitably utilise a relatively small 3.5-acre plot.”
Slough has evolved into one of Europe’s most significant concentrations of data centres, a position built on connectivity, power availability, and proximity to London. Increasingly, these assets are not peripheral infrastructure but core enablers of economic activity. From AI and cloud computing to fintech and e-commerce, data centres underpin the systems that modern economies rely on. TechUK estimates that UK data centres contribute around £4.7bn in gross value added each year, support tens of thousands of jobs at a national level and generate £640m in annual tax revenue.
It suggests that if capacity were to expand at fifteen per cent annually over the next decade, the sector could generate an additional £44bn for the economy. Research for Amazon Web Services puts the economic contribution of cloud services at more than £42bn, almost one and a half per cent of national GDP. Slough’s ability to host and scale this infrastructure places it at the centre of the UK’s digital growth trajectory, supporting both national capability and global demand.
SEGRO’s latest development will deliver 30,000 sq m of high-specification data centre space across three floors, alongside a roof-level plant deck. Designed to meet advanced operational and environmental standards, the scheme is targeting a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating and will provide up to 50MVA of power at full capacity.
A defining strength of Slough’s data centre ecosystem is its critical mass. The concentration of more than 30 existing operational facilities continues to attract further investment, creating a powerful clustering effect that reinforces the town’s competitive edge.
Beyond capacity, Slough’s digital infrastructure is catalysing wider innovation. The proximity of data centres, technology firms, and enterprise occupiers is fostering collaboration, enabling faster development and deployment of emerging technologies.This ecosystem is also driving advances in energy efficiency and sustainable operations, from cooling systems to power optimisation.
Investment in data centres is translating into tangible local benefits, supporting employment across construction, engineering, and long-term operations, while creating pathways into high-growth digital sectors.
Pat Hayes, Executive Director of Housing, Property and Regeneration at Slough Borough Council, said:
“SEGRO’s continued investment in Slough is a powerful endorsement of the town’s role at the heart of the UK’s digital economy. Developments like this strengthen our position as a global data centre hub while supporting our ambitions for sustainable growth, innovation, and high-quality employment opportunities for residents.”