- A £200 million data centre has been proposed at Thames Valley Park in the UK.
- The development would replace three existing office buildings formerly used by Microsoft.
- The facility could require up to 110MW of electricity when fully operational.
- Developers want to use natural gas generation while the local power network is upgraded.
- The project could create up to 65 permanent jobs.
- A planning decision is expected by March.
A major data centre development could transform the site of Microsoft’s former UK headquarters at Thames Valley Park after a £200 million planning application was submitted.
The proposal would involve demolishing three existing office buildings at the Earley business park. A new facility would then be constructed as part of an expansion of Britain’s digital infrastructure capacity.
Property owner Mapeley has presented the project to Wokingham Borough Council, with a decision on the application expected by March.
The proposed development would significantly change the existing site, with the three office blocks making way for the new data centre.
Plans indicate that the main structures could rise to 30.5 metres, putting the tallest sections at roughly the height of a 10-storey residential building. The facility would contain the main data centre buildings alongside power infrastructure, backup generation equipment and office accommodation.
Mapeley acquired the Microsoft site in 2005 and has since pursued redevelopment plans for the property. The latest proposal is being positioned as part of the company’s investment in the UK’s growing digital infrastructure sector.
One of the biggest challenges facing the project is its expected electricity demand.
Planning documents estimate that the completed facility could require as much as 110 megawatts of power. The site currently has access to only about 1.8MW from the National Grid, creating a significant gap that developers would need to address.
The proposal therefore includes natural gas-powered generation equipment to provide additional electricity while upgrades to the local power network are carried out. Backup generators and other supporting infrastructure would also form part of the development.
The developers have also explored ways of making use of heat produced by the data centre.
One proposal involves connecting the facility to a future district heating network. If developed, the system could supply heat to several facilities in Reading, including the Royal Berkshire Hospital, the University of Reading and local schools.
The development is also expected to provide employment once completed. Mapeley estimates that up to 65 jobs could be created when the data centre becomes operational.
The proposed project has received a mixed response from people commenting on the development.
Supporters see the location as suitable for large-scale digital infrastructure, while opponents have raised concerns about the environmental effects of the facility. Noise, heat, carbon emissions and potential impacts on wildlife are among the issues highlighted.
The site’s location close to Thames Valley Park Nature Reserve has also featured in concerns surrounding the proposal.
Developers have submitted a biodiversity assessment alongside the planning application. The assessment estimates that the project would achieve more than 22% biodiversity net gain, which is above the stated government requirement of 10%.
The redevelopment would also bring a substantial change to parking provision at Thames Valley Park.
The number of spaces would fall from 1,092 under the existing arrangement to just 72 under the proposed scheme. Despite the sharp reduction, developers estimate that the data centre could result in around 1,700 fewer vehicle movements each day compared with the site’s previous office use.
The argument is based on the different traffic patterns associated with a data centre compared with a large office complex.
Microsoft’s connection to the site is also set to change as the redevelopment plans progress.
The technology company is expected to move into the existing HERE building at Thames Valley Park by the end of 2027. This would leave the former headquarters site available for the proposed data centre development.
The £200 million project now awaits consideration by Wokingham Borough Council, with the planning decision expected by March.
