Plans have been unveiled for a £3.75bn data centre based in Hertfordshire described by the developers as one of the largest of its kind in Europe.
The plans were submitted to Hertsmere Borough Council by DC01 UK, which said the centre could be operational by 2029.
According to the company, the project will support 500 jobs during the construction phase and 200 new permanent local jobs once the facility is operational.
Read more: Who is DC01UK, the firm behind plans for a huge billion-pound data centre?
“This is incredibly exciting news. It shows that Hertsmere is an extremely desirable location for business and is a natural base for the cutting-edge technology and critical infrastructure which will serve Britain in the coming years and for many future generations,” said Jeremy Newmark, leader of Hertsmere Borough Council and chair of Hertfordshire Growth Board.
The application is subject to the planning process of the council, which will collect views from locals ahead of a decision.
The announcement coincides with the UK’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) decision to grant data centres Critical National Infrastructure status.
“The ambition for this project is to build the next generation of national digital infrastructure to power the needs of tomorrow,” said a spokesperson for DC01 UK.
“This project would put Hertfordshire at the forefront of one of the most technologically exciting projects in Europe and lead the world in setting the gold standard for the next generation of high-tech infrastructure.”
DC01 UK was established in 2022 as a joint venture between property developer Griggs Group and Chiltern Green Energy.
Read more: Race to build British data centres heats up as AWS commits £8bn over 5 years
